Life history theory is useful for taking an evolutionary approach to individual differences. An individual’s life history strategy (LHS), based on life history theory, can be measured using the Arizona Life History Battery or a part of it—the Mini-K—as the K-factor. In this study, I examined two research questions regarding the Japanese version of the Mini-K (i.e., Mini-K-J). First, I assessed the construct validity and invariance between sexes of the Mini-K-J because there existed issues with the factor structure of the original Mini-K. These issues were addressed in the original Mini-K, but not in the Japanese version. In particular, I examined whether the instrument consists of a single higher order factor (K-factor) and whether sex invariance exists in the factor structure, following Richardson et al. Second, I assessed criterion validity of the Mini-K-J. In particular, I examined whether the Mini-K-J could capture fast LHS traits in Japanese undergraduates because the Mini-K-J has been validated only using slow LHS traits. The results showed that (1) the Mini-K-J generated a single higher order factor (i.e., K-factor) and five first-order factors, (2) there existed sex invariance of the factor structure, and (3) the higher order K-factor mean might have a different meaning between sexes. These results predominately support Richardson et al. Further, the higher order K-factor of the Mini-K-J could capture fast LHS personality traits. These results suggest that the Mini-K-J would be useful for future studies related to LHS.

中文翻译：

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Mini-KJ 的结构及其测量日本本科生快速生活史特征的实用性。

生活史理论对于采用进化方法来解决个体差异很有用。基于生命史理论的个人生命史策略（LHS）可以使用亚利桑那生命史电池或其一部分（Mini-K）作为 K 因子来测量。在这项研究中，我研究了有关日本版 Mini-K（即 Mini-KJ）的两个研究问题。首先，我评估了 Mini-KJ 的结构有效性和性别之间的不变性，因为原始 Mini-K 的因子结构存在问题。这些问题在最初的 Mini-K 中已得到解决，但在日文版本中并未得到解决。特别是，我按照 Richardson 等人的研究，检查了该工具是否由单个高阶因子（K 因子）组成，以及因子结构中是否存在性别不变性。其次，我评估了 Mini-KJ 的标准有效性。我特别检查了 Mini-KJ 是否可以捕获日本本科生的快速 LHS 特征，因为 Mini-KJ 仅使用慢速 LHS 特征进行了验证。结果表明：（1）Mini-KJ生成了单个高阶因子（即K因子）和五个一阶因子；（2）因子结构存在性别不变性；（3）高阶因子结构存在性别不变性。 K 因子平均值在不同性别之间可能具有不同的含义。这些结果主要支持理查森等人的观点。此外，Mini-KJ 的高阶 K 因子可以捕捉快速的 LHS 人格特征。这些结果表明 Mini-KJ 对于未来与 LHS 相关的研究将很有用。