Approaches to Personality 1b Flashcards
What is the Lexical Hypothesis?
All aspects of individual personality can be described from single words used in language
What is extraversion an example of?
A latent variable
What are psychometrics?
The scientific measurement of psychological variables
What is a latent variable?
A variable that cannot be observed
What do correlations enable us to determine?
Which terms are related to one another, and so represent a common ‘latent’ factor
What is factor analysis?
A statistical technique that uses patterns of correlations to identify a small number of underlying latent variables
During factor analysis, what does the researcher do?
- Decide how many factors to extract
- Name factor based on the items that load on it
For independent factors, how many factors should items load strongly on to?
One (with low cross-loadings)
What kind of ‘data reduction’ technique is factor analysis?
Multivariate
What does factor analysis look for?
Set of ‘latent variables’ (factors) that best account for the pattern of correlation within the dataset
What are Costa and McCrae’s BIG Five?
Neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness
What is openness to experience? (O)
The tendency to engage in intellectual activities and experience new sensations and ideas. Related to curiosity, imagination, unconventional attitudes, aesthetic sensitivity.
What is agreeableness (A)?
Friendly, considerate, and modest behaviour; Caring, nurturing, and tolerant. Have a disposition to pro-social behaviour
What is conscientiousness (C)?
Proactivity, responsibility, and self-discipline; efficiency; organization, determination, and productivity.
What is Cattell’s 16 Personality Factor Model?
16 source traits that explain surface trait variability
