Personality Research Methods

Question 1

Why measure personality?
Quoted answer (Funder, 2004).

Answer 1

“People are psychologically different from each other, and these differences matter.” (Funder, 2004).

Question 2

Early Personality Theory: Types

Answer 2

Astrology

Palmistry

Phrenology – Franz Josef Gall

Physiognomy – face, skin

Somatotypes – Sheldon (1954)

Psychological Types – Jung (1921)

Type Indicator – Myers and Briggs

Question 3

Extraversion vs. Introversion (E vs. I) describes…

Answer 3

the location where an individual draws energy.

Question 4

Sensing vs. Intuition (S vs. N) describes…

Answer 4

how a person takes in information

Question 5

Thinking vs. Feeling (T vs. F) describes…

Answer 5

the means a person uses to make decisions…

Question 6

Judging vs. Perceiving (J vs. P) describes…

Answer 6

the speed with which a person makes decisions

Question 7

Types of measures (data)

Answer 7

Self-report:
Structured
Unstructured

Life-Outcome data:
Observer-report:
Lab
Naturalistic

Test data:
Lab

Question 8

Self-report Data (S-Data)

Answer 8

Structured:
True/False, multiple-choice, questionnaire, inventory ratings
“I am an honest person” 
True/False
1=Untrue of me, 5= True of me
Unstructured:
Open-ended questions
“My friends would say I am a person who \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_”

Question 9

Self-report Data (S-Data) pros and cons

Answer 9

Advantages:
Access to wealth of information
May be obtained anytime, and anywhere

Disadvantages:
Problematic when responders do not cooperate
Responders interpret items incorrectly
Responders may not have good knowledge of self

Question 10

Life-Outcome Data (L-Data) pros and cons

Answer 10

Advantages:
Public records are easy to obtain

Disadvantages:
Many factors, in addition to personality, may affect life outcome

Question 11

Observer-report (O-Data)

Answer 11

“Target” person observed and reported by:
Individuals who know the person (e.g. spouse, parents)
Individuals who not known to the person (objective observer e.g. paid researcher)

Setting may be naturalistic or artificial
Behaviour may change due to being observed
Other factors may include unlike in laboratory, experimental settings
Is it ethical to observe without permission?

Question 12

Observer-report (O-Data) pros and cons

Answer 12

Advantages:
External behaviour (impression on others) is assessed
Multiple observers can report different aspects
Disadvantages:
Labour-intensive, and costly
Potential bias especially when the observer knows the person
Observer may be biased due to their own personal characteristics
e.g. Observer who is more attentive to details than another observer

Question 13

Test Data (T-Data)

Answer 13

Usually based in the laboratory

May construct tasks to elicit certain personality trait in person

Question 14

Test Data (T-Data) pros & cons

Answer 14

Advantages:
Unique information not obtained elsewhere
Well-controlled environment, easier to measure, more objective
Technologically based – reducing researcher intervention
Difficult to fake some physiological responses

Disadvantages:
Participants modify normal behaviour when in lab; Is the behaviour resembling how they behave outside of the lab?
Researcher can influence participants during interaction

Question 15

Reliability:

Answer 15

“Is the data we have gathered consistent over time?”
We need confidence in results especially when repeating the measurement
To have consistency when predicting behaviour

Question 16

Validity:

Answer 16

“Does this test measure what it claims to measure?”
So we know we are measuring what we want, and not other unintended concepts
So that we can make valid claims about findings.

Question 17

Experimental Research designs:

Answer 17

Manipulation of variable(s) is/are necessary

“A variable is a characteristic or condition that changes or has different values for different individuals.”
e.g., height, salary, intelligence, extraversion score
Random Assignment to Conditions is necessary
Thus, all groups are the same before the start of experiment
Warranted Conclusion: Causality (i.e., one variable influences another).

Question 18

Research Methods:

1. Experimental DesignsThe fundamental scientific principle of Controlled Observation:

Answer 18

You want to show A causes B

Manipulate A, then observe any changes in B

Make sure no other variable could have been the cause of B

Question 19

Research Methods:

2. Correlational Designs

Answer 19

To determine the relationship between 2 or more variables.

e.g., Is extraversion related to number of friends on FB?

No different groups of people, no comparison

Correlation coefficient:
An index/number indicating the direction and strength of relationship between 2 variables.

It ranges from -1.00 to 0.00 to +1.00

Warranted Conclusion: Correlational designs will not tell us about causality of one variable on another.

Question 20

Describe a perfect positive correlation

Answer 20

Straight-line from bottom left corner to top right.

Question 21

Describe a perfect negative correlation

Answer 21

Straight-line from bottom right corner to top left.

Question 22

Describe a Near-zero correlation

Answer 22

Scattered data within graph. No distinct shape/format/line showcasing any correlations within data.

Question 23

Describe a strong positive correlation

Answer 23

More scattered, non-perfect line from bottom left to top right.

Question 24

Describe a strong negative correlation

Answer 24

More scattered, non-perfect line from bottom right to top left of graph.

Question 25

Research methods:3. Case Studies

Answer 25

In-depth study of an individual
Useful for unique features that is uncommon
e.g., most news-worthy human interest stories are about individuals with something interesting/unique about them
Phineas Gage is a good example