The convergence of the California Q-set and the California Psychological Inventory: gender as a critical variable.

Clinician-report California Q-set and self-report California Psychological Inventory data were compared to explore convergence and divergence between these two modes of personality assessment. Based on responses from a sample of 215 approximately 50-year-old men and women, the self-report California Psychological Inventory data were converted to California Q-set item values using previously determined redundancy analysis formulae. These data were then correlated with composite clinicians' ratings, using the same California Q-set items. Substantial convergence was found for both genders on four of six derived components--Empowerment, Intellectuality, Nonconformity, and Outgoingness. Two additional components--Psychological Health and Bodily Concern--showed convergence for women only. We argue analysis of item content and scores must be done for each gender separately.