Validation of a preliminary soft-heartedness scale within the South African personality inventory

M.Comm. (Industrial psychology)The South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) project aims to develop a personality measurement instrument unique to South Africa, taking into account the diversity evident in the different cultures within South Africa. The objective of this study was to validate the Soft-heartedness scale of the SAPI and to determine whether Soft-heartedness is a unique personality construct distinct from the Big Five factors measured within the Basic Trait Inventory (BTI). In addition, the study aimed to determine whether Soft-heartedness can predict the external criterion, Prosocialness. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design with convenience sampling was used. Data was gathered from students (N=435) at two tertiary institutions in South Africa, using a preliminary Soft-heartedness Scale, the BTI-S (Short form: Research Version), and the Prosocialness Scale. The Soft-heartedness scale consists of 79 items that yielded a reliable six factor structure, namely Empathy, Antagonism, Egoism, Active Support, Compassionate, and Hostility. The results of this study suggest that the Soft-heartedness scale is valid and reliable since: (1) it consists of reliable measuring scales; (2) demonstrated divergent validity from those measures it was meant to differ from; (3) demonstrated convergent validity from those measures it was intended to be in agreement with; and (4) demonstrated predictive validity in terms of predicting an external criterion