Factor structure of Ellis' irrational beliefs in a nonclinical college population

In a study of irrational beliefs among nonclinical populations, 54 male and 75 female college students completed the Irrational Beliefs Survey. Analysis suggests that the survey measures a coherent construct and that a simple summary score is adequate for most uses. Factor analysis disclosed a unidimensional monotonic dimension of irrationality in beliefs among nonclinical respondents. The findings contrast with the appearance of ambiguous clusters of irrational beliefs reported with an inpatient population. The existence of a single dimension of irrational belief is substantially supported.