Factor interpretations of the self-consciousness scale

Fenigstein, Scheier & Bussʹs (1975) 3-factor model, Burnkrant & Pageʹs (1984) 4-factor model and Mittal & Balasubramanianʹs (1987) 5-factor model of the Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS) were tested using the revised SCS (Scheier & Carver, 1985a) on a sample of 354 undergraduate students. Burnkrant and Pageʹs 4-factor model showed superiority over the other two models in a confirmatory factor analysis. This finding was cross-validated in another sample of 354 undergraduate students. It is concluded that the division of the private self-consciousness subscale is adequate, whereas the division of the public self-consciousness subscale is not justified.