On the replicability of the factorial structure of the sensation seeking scale

The present investigation sought to further examine the underlying factorial structure of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). Since the cross-national replicability of the structure postulated by Zuckerman was studied recently by researchers from Australia and Canada using the SSS form V (Ball, Farnill and Wangeman, 1983; Rowland and Franken, 1986), it seemed worthwhile to compare their results with the results obtained in a non-English speaking culture. One-hundred-and-sixty-nine Israeli female students completed the Hebrew version of the SSS within a selection type setting. The factor analytic results by-and-large replicated three out of the four Sensation Seeking subfactors identified by Zuckerman. A comparison of the factor analytic results with those obtained in the Australian and Canadian studies yielded a considerably high congruence between the Israeli and the Canadian samples. However, a lower congruence was achieved when each of these samples was compared with the Australian sample. As a result of the cross-national comparison, 16 items were identified as inadequate. In spite of the general replicability of the factor structure of the SSS in several cultures, the findings of this study support the conclusion reached by Ball et al. (1983) and by Roland and Franken (1986) that a refinement of the scale is desirable.