Flashcards
Lecture 5 - Measuring Personality
Cards in this deck (34)
- 1What is the difference between self-report scales and inventories?Scale - measures one dimension of personality
Inventory - several scales that together measure multiple dimensions of personality. - 2What are the common features of self report scales and inventories?Typically:
Introspective
Subjective
Structured
Contain more than one item per construct
Most common way of measuring personality.
E.g. likert scale, YES/NO - 3What is the difference between Q'data and Q-data?E.g. 'I am the kindest student in Manchester' - Likert scale answer 'Strongly agree'
Q'data -face value. assumes the response represents a reliable and accurate description of the individuals personality. - This is a very kind person. But unlikely to be a valid measure of kindness.
Q-data - use statistical techniques to determine what the response really reveals about a person and ensure validity of item. - deceitful, arrogant, deluded person. - 4What is lack of item unidimensionality?When an item measures more than one dimension.
A uni-dimensional item measuring 'sociability' should only be sensitive to level of sociability.
E.g. 'i enjoy going to drunken parties' - time of tear, religious beliefs, the person asking the question - all affect response. So isn't uni dimensional. - 5What is the problem with most self-report items in personality scale?Most items are not uni-dimensional.
Importance of determining validity of test. - 6What two types of error affect the reliability of test scores?Random error and systematic error
Test score = true score + measurement error (random and systematic error) - 7What is random error?Non-systematic variation in the test score.
Normal distribution of test scores. - 8How can you reduce random error?Increase the number of test items
- 9What is systematic error?Test score always slightly higher or lower than true score.
E.g. from response set bias, socially desirable responding or faking. - 10What is the impact of increasing number of items on systematic error?Increasing the number of items does not help.
- 11What are response set biases?Straight-lining - type of insufficient effort responding.
- 12What are the 3 types of response set biases?Acquiescence bias - tendency to agree ('strongly agree' 'YES')
Nay saying - tendency to disagree
Midpoint responding - neither agree nor disagree. - 13How can you reduce response set biases?Remove the mid point option.
Include Reverse-Scored items - 14What is socially desirable response bias?Answer in a socially desirable way.
- 15What is faking? Where is this a particular concern?Deceptive intent.
Particular concern in occupational/forensic settings.
Ion and Iliescu 2017 - lack of equivalence of NEO-PI-R in high vs low stakes setting (job applicants vs non-applicants). - 16How can you reduce faking?Include lie detector items - undesirable option but people have to agree. Would be a lie to say no in most cases. E.g. I never find dirty jokes amusing or i have never told a lie'.
Anonymous responding (where possible)
Make all options socially desirable. - 17What is a Mach V Scale forced choice item?Ppts given 3 options:
'It would be good if people were kinder to others less fortunate' - Socially desirable buffer (mean soc. des rating 4.35)
'The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear' - MACH item (2.80)
'People are getting so lazy and self indulgent' - Non Mach item (2.80)
Which item is most like your views?
Which item is least like your views?
Response to socially desirable buffer is ignored.
Option not selected as least is taken as being more like their views. Picking between 2 evils. - 18What are the limitations of these forced choice items?More time consuming
- 19What are some behavioural measures of personality?Steffans and Schulze Konig 2006 -
Agreeableness - ppts turning up to take part in the study for course credit were falsely told their name wasn't on list. Responses rated as behavioural indicator of agreeableness.
Neuroticism - ppts did a horrendously demanding WM task. When they made mistakes they received increasingly scolding messages. Any nervous gestures made were rated as a measure of neuroticism.
Extraversion - ppts were asked q's about their experiences of the study by a researcher. Time spent with the researcher answering q's was taken as a measure of extraversion. - 20How well do these behavioral measures correlate with self report measures?Low concurrent validity
Out of the OCEAN characteristics:
only E and O correlations were significant. But still only weak correlations (.22 and .29)
Suggests inadequacy of behavioural or self report measures?
Maybe implicit measures are better than explicit (self report) - 21What is an implicit personality assessment?Steffans and Schulze Konig 2006:
Modification of the implicit association test
Categorise words into:
Self vs others
Conscientious vs unconscientious
or
incongruent pairs
E.g. ME, disciplined, YOURS, chaotic, YOU, pedantic.
Calculate differences in RT for congruent vs incongruent trials.
Greater difference - more like trait. - 22What did this implicit personality test find for the BIG 5 traits? Steffans and Schulze Konig 2006For each BIG 5 trait:
Reaction time differences on IAT test was calculated.
NEO-FFI scores (self report) and behavioural measure gathered.
Found some correlation between IAT scores and NEO scores (only sig for neuroticism and conscientiousness).
IAT score correlated with behaviour on more dimensions (neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness). - 23What are 'others' ratings dependent on?Dependent on:
External manifestations of motives, feelings and thoughts.
Observation of limited selected of situations. - 24What did Funder (1995) suggest about the accuracy of personality judgement?E.g. 'He/she is the life and soul of the party'
Relevance - you produce trait relevant behaviour.
Availability - behaviour is available to rater
Detection - rater detects behaviour
Utilization - rater correctly interprets behaviour - 25Why are others' rating important?Essential for some ppts.
E.g. baby/infant, cognitive impairment or dementia. - 26What is the Self-Other Knowledge Asymmetry (SOKA) Model?Both Self and Other ratings can be valid predictors of behaviour but asymmetries in validity of self vs other knowledge.
Others more accurate for high evaluability traits e.g. intellect.
Self more accurate for low observability traits e.g. neuroticism. - 27What is Q-Sort Methodology?California Q-Sort - Jack Block
Ppts given cards with characteristics written on.
Asked to place cards in to diamond hierarchy.
Top - extremely characteristic
Bottom - extremely uncharacteristic - 28What is a strength of using Q-sort?Eliminates acquiescence/nay saying bias. E.g. there is no neutral option.
Requires greater thought - 29What is a weakness of using Q-sort?Time consuming
Evidence for order effects - more likely to switch off towards end of cards.
Better suited to individual/patient/therapy work - 30What is an projective test of personality?E.g. describe/tell a story about e.g. ambiguous/meaningless stimuli.
Projection of personality.
Scored according to content and focus.
E.g. inkblot - 31Which is a strength of using protective tests?Less dependent on introspection
Less prone to bias and cheating.
Similar approaches now being applied to digital footprints and other behaviours. - 32What are the weaknesses of using projective tests of personality?Subjective, complex, unreliable scoring.
Not based on mainstream personality theory. - 33What is the Apperceptive Personality TestMake up a story about each picture.
Complete a structured questionnaire.
e.g. rate how smart/capable/caring the character appears.
Based on idea that ratings of fictional characters stem from interpretation of your own personality. - 34What have correlations between Apperceptive Personality Tests and PEN questionnaires shown?Personality has some influence on interpretation of pictures.
Those high in E, more likely to rate character as happy, a leader.
Those high in N, less likely to rate character as happy, successful and kind.
Rest not significant.
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- Semester 2 (Individual Differences in Mental Health and Wellbeing) Flashcards on Lecture 5 - Measuring Personality, created by Jess Grange on 10/04/2019.
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