Abstract
Background: The Noetic Signature Inventory (NSI) is a 44-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates people’s experiences of intuition or inner knowing. Previous research developing and validating the measure demonstrated its validity and reliability, and a 12-factor model describing the variability of noetic experiences was found. This current study aims to confirm this factor model in a new population.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 2,415 participants completed demographic information and the NSI. The collected data were then subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Results: Participants were 51.7 ± 15.0 years old with 16.7 ± 3.3 years of education. They hailed from 76 countries, although most were from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The CFA results for the 12-factor model were as follows: χ²(836) = 3962.74, p < .001, CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.039 (90% CI = 0.039–0.041), and SRMR = 0.048. All 44 items had factor loadings above the 0.50 cutoff, ranging from 0.86 to 1.83 (M = 1.12). These values represent a very good model fit to the data, as commonly reported fit statistics indicate.
Conclusions: The 12-factor structure of the NSI was confirmed with excellent fit indices, supporting its potential as a valid and reliable tool for assessing noetic characteristics. Nonetheless, limitations remain, and further research is needed to confirm and extend the findings in diverse populations and settings. The results contribute to our understanding of the multidimensionality of noetic phenomena. Future research could build upon these findings by replicating the factor structure of the NSI in other populations, incorporating objective measures, conducting longitudinal studies, exploring underlying mechanisms, and using qualitative methods to deepen understanding of inner knowing experiences.
