Problem 1 Flashcards
Self report
(Self-data)
Is a method of assessing personality that involves asking an individual about his or her behaviors, thoughts and feelings + then inferring that individuals personality on the basis of the responses
–> allows an accurate + efficient measurement at a low cost
Self ratings
Is basically the same method as self reports just that the person is asked to rate his individual level of the trait on a given scale
ex.: 1-10
Are self ratings more accurate than self reports ?
Not necessarily,
the rating might be a more direct indication of the trait
BUT: people might differ in their understandings of a certain trait
ex.: misinterpreting impulsivity as a king of spontaneous tendency
Observer/Informant report
(Informant-Data)
Is a method that involves asking a third party for a certain individuals behaviours, thoughts and feelings
What are the advantages vs disadvantages of the observer report ?
Advantage: An individuals personality might be judged more objectively
Disadvantage:
a) The person might be inclined to present a good or bad impression for that individual
–> enhancement vs diminishing bias
b) some feelings + thought might never even be observed
c) expensive + time-consuming
Direct observation
(Behavior- data)
Is a method where a persons behavior is directly observed
–> the trait is measured by observing the frequency or intensity with which the individual performs those behaviors
ex.: how frequently you talk on phone, visit friends etc. –> to assess sociability
Biodata
(Live-data)
Is a method where some records of the persons life, which seem likely to be relevant to an individuals personality, are obtained
ex.: speeding ticket
–> recklesness
What are advantages vs disadvantages of obtaining biodata ?
Advantage:
They are objective indicators of behavior
Disadvantage:
Not always clear if it is an accurate indicator
–> Interpretation might not always be correct
Why are self reports and observer reports more commonly and widely used ?
They provide extremely quick + cheap methods of measuring a wide array of traits with generally good levels of reliability + validity
Which four methods can be used to assess personality traits ?
- Self report
- Observer report
- Direct Observation
- Biodata
Brunswiks lens model
States that elements in the environment can serve as a kind of lens through which observers indirectly perceive underlying constructs
–> involve cue utilization + cue validity
Cue utilization (Brunswik lens model)
Refers to the link between the observable cue + observers judgment
ex.: organized desk –> conscientiousness
Cue validity (Brunswik lens model)
Refers to the link between the observable cue + the occupants actual level of the underlying construct
According to Brunswiks model the mechanisms linking individuals to the environments they inhabit fall into 2 categories.
Which are they ?
1. Identity claims
a) self directed
b) other directed
2. Behavioral residue
a) interior
b) exterior
Self-directed identity claims
Refer to symbolic statements made by the occupants for their own benefit, intended to reinforce their self views
ex.: decorating ones room in a way that reflects ones personality, hobbies etc
Other directed claims
Refer to symbols that have shared meanings to make statements to others about how they would like to be regarded
–> intentionally communicating ones attitudes +values to others
ex.: office may be designed in a way that suggests to others a conscientious, hard working disposition
Interior behavioral residue
Refer to the physical traces of activities conducted in ones immediate environment (at home), reflecting past or anticipated behaviors
ex.: unopened bottle of wine + chairs arranged in a circle
–> awaiting guests
Exterior behavioral residue
Refer to the physical traces of activities conducted outside of ones immediate environment (outside)
ex.: ski pass
–> knows how to ski
What is the “2-Step inference process” to form impressions about a person ?
- Observers infer behaviors that created physical evidence
- Observers infer the dispositions that underlie the behaviors
–> assuming that no stereotypes intervene
ex.: organized workspace
- person organizes his/her belongings
- high levels of conscientiousness
How do stereotypes impact the judgements of a person ?
The stereotype might be associated with a whole set of traits, some of which may have no direct link to the evidence in the environment
ex.: noticing asian books on a shelve will activate asian stereotypes
EAR
Is a microcassette recorder that tracks ambient sounds in peoples environments by recording them over a period of up to 4 days
–> it therefore adopts the unique observer perspective of lived-day studies
What are personality constructs ?/ What is a personality ?
It refers to inferred characteristics or traits of a person
What are possible biases that one might encounter when self reporting ?
- Response bias
- Acquiescent responding
- Extreme responding
- Self perception
–> will impede the validity of the self report measure
Response bias
Responding in a way that will present the self in a more favorable light
Acquiescent responding
Agreeing with response without considering what the question is asking
Extreme responding
Giving extreme ratings on scales
–> over-exaggeration
Why might our own self perception provoke biased responding ?
Because, people are predisposed toward self enhancement or trying to maintain positivity of the self at the expense of being unrealistic or simply wrong
–> requires a person to fully know his/herself
Principle of aggregation
States that in receiving a number of judgments from many people, the reliability of the results will increase
–> supports Informant reports
What are Multiple methods ? Why can they be helpful ?
- Utilizing more than one method to measure a concept
- May help demonstrate construct validity + increases the accuracy of results
Fundamental attribution error (observer report)
Underestimating situational factors/circumstances but overestimating personal factors
Interrater reliability
Refers to the degree to which different raters give consistent estimates of the same behavior
–> a score of how much homogeneity or consensus exists in the ratings given by various judges
Convergent validity
Shows the correlation between two measures that measured the same construct
–> shows that they are related
Meta accuracy
(Dyadic vs Generalized)
Refers to the capacity to know how others see us
1. Dyadic
–> peoples awareness of the impressions they make on specific individuals
2. Generalized
–> peoples awareness of their reputation
Criterion problem
Refers to the problem, that measures of ones own self perception are not readily available, as the practitioner doesn’t know how accurate it is
How can the criterion problem be solved ?
By using any of the following methods:
- Informant report
- Direct Observation
- Biodata
Self-knwoledge of personality
Refers to accurate self-perceptions about how one typically thinks, feels and behaves
–> being aware of how those patterns are interpreted by others
Self-percpetion bias
Refers to the tendency to overestimate ones abilities and consequently rating the self more favorably than others
Delete card
How to get objectivity throughout observational data?
- more people to observe and correspond data (see connection through rater)
- take in account for foundations culture background
