Final Exam

Question 1

What is the basic approach?

Answer 1

The basic approach (also called a paradigm) is all of the different approaches together; biological, trait, psychoanalytic, phenomenological, learning and cognitive

Question 2

What is the trait approach?

Answer 2

• The trait approach focuses on personality traits, such as extroverted versus introverted and openness
• Conceptualization of individual differences
• Measurement of individual differences

Question 3

What is the biological approach?

Answer 3

The biological approach addresses different biological mechanisms

Question 4

What is the psychoanalytic approach?

Answer 4

The psychoanalytic approach focuses on the unconscious mind and internal mental conflict

Question 5

What are the elements of phenomenological approach?

Answer 5

• Conscious awareness and experience
• Humanistic psychology
• Cross-cultural psychology

Question 6

What are the elements of learning and cognitive approaches?

Answer 6

• Behaviorism
• Social learning theory
• Cognitive personality psychology

Question 7

What are the different types of data?

Answer 7

• Self-report data
• Informant data
• Life outcomes data
• Behavioral data

Question 8

What are the elements of self-report data?

Answer 8

• Use questionnaires or surveys
• Based on a large amount of information

Question 9

What are some advantages of self-report data?

Answer 9

• High face validity
• Unique perspective
  
  • Gives access to thoughts, feelings, and intentions
• Gives data that is true by definition
  
  • Such as self-esteem
• Gives causal force
  
  • Efficacy expectations
  • Self-verifications
• Tests are simple and easy

Question 10

What are some disadvantages to self-report data?

Answer 10

• Some things the participant won’t be able to tell you
• Some things the participants won’t want to tell you
• The test can be too simple and too easy, then become overused

Question 11

What are elements of informant data?

Answer 11

• In informant is asked about the person in question and they give you information
• An informant could be an acquaintance or someone very close to the individual in question
• The information given by the informant is based on their judgments

Question 12

What are some advantages of informant data?

Answer 12

• Large amounts of information
• Real world basis, because the information comes from real-world observations
• Information is given using common sense
• Some data, like likability, is true by definition
• Causal force

Question 13

What are some disadvantages of informant data?

Answer 13

• Limited information behavior, because the informant cannot be with the participant at all times
• Lack of access to private experience
• Can have errors
• Can have bias

Question 14

What is life outcomes data?

Answer 14

Life data is verifiable, concrete, and real-life facts that may have psychological significance

Question 15

What are some advantages of life outcomes data?

Answer 15

• Objective and verifiable
• Intrinsic importance, because the information constitutes exactly what the psychologist needs to know
• Psychological relevance

Question 16

What are some disadvantages to life outcome data?

Answer 16

• Multi determination
  
  • Life data may have many causes, so trying to figure out the direct connection between specific attributes of personality and life outcomes is difficult
• Possible lack of psychological relevance

Question 17

What is behavioral data?

Answer 17

Behavioral data is the observation of a person’s behavior either in daily life or in the laboratory

Question 18

What are some advantages of behavioral data collection?

Answer 18

• A wide range of context, both real and contrived
• Appearance of objectivity

Question 19

What are some disadvantages of behavioral data?

Answer 19

• Can be difficult and expensive
• Can also have uncertain interpretations

Question 20

What are projective tests?

Answer 20

Projective tests try to answer subconscious mind. The theory is that if someone is asked to describe or interpret a meaningless or ambiguous stimulus, their answer cannot come from the stimulus itself, because the stimulus doesn’t actually look like anything.

Question 21

What are some examples of projective tests?

Answer 21

• Rorschach test
• Thematic apperception test
• Draw a person test

Question 22

What is an objective test?

Answer 22

An objective test has questions that can be answered yes or no, true or false, or on a numeric scale