Cross-National Invariance of Children's Temperament

Abstract

Measurement of temperament is an important endeavor with international appeal; however, cross-national invariance (i.e., equivalence of test scores across countries as established by empirical comparisons) of temperament tests has not been established in published research. This study examines the cross-national invariance of school-aged children's temperament styles as measured by the Student Styles Questionnaire (SSQ). Development of the SSQ was based on Jung's theory of temperament as augmented by Myers and Briggs. A four bipolar dimension model provided an excellent fit for Australian, Chinese, Costa Rican, Philippine, United States, and Zimbabwean samples and modest fit for Gaza (Palestinian) and Nigerian samples. This study provides partial support for the conclusion that the structure of school-age children's temperament as measured by the SSQ transcends differences in languages and cultures.