Higher-order factors in the differential emotions scale (DES-III)

The 30-item version of Izard's Differential Emotions Scale (DES-III) was submitted to an iterative principal factoring plus oblique (direct Oblimin) rotation to simple structure, on a sample of 204 University of Delaware undergraduates. The intercorrelation matrix for the eight primary emotional-state factors derived, was subsequently subjected to a higher-order factoring. Four second-order factors accounted readily for the variance measured in the DES-III scales and this suggests that the multivariate mood-state instrument might be more profitably scored for secondary factors, in certain instances. This conclusion in no way detracts from the importance of the DES-III primaries, but adds to the usefulness of the instrument in applied studies.