Factor Structure of the Counselor Rating Form-Short

The relative goodness of fit of four competing factor models of the Counselor Rating Form-Short was examined across client (N = 191) and nonclient (N = 111) samples by confirmatory factor analysis. The four models tested were (a) the single, general, positive-evaluation factor; (b) the three orthogonal factors (expertness, trustworthiness, and attractiveness); (c) the three oblique factors; and (d) a two-step hierarchical-factor model consisting of the three independent first-order factors and an independent second-order general factor. Results of the confirmatory factor analyses supported the validity of the two-step hierarchical-factor model for both the client and nonclient samples. The factor structure of this two-step hierarchical-factor model was found to be invariant across the two samples.