SC and Conscientiousness

Question 1

Define C

Answer 1

Thoroughness, diligence, efficient and ordered

Question 2

SC and C general links

Answer 2

1. Both predict academic attainment (Lehrer, 2011)
2. Need SC to behave in a C manner (Tangney, Baumeister and Boone, 2008)
3. Correlate highly with one another (.77)

Question 3

Lifespan

Answer 3

If SC and C are linked (of a facet of) they should follow the same lifespan trajectory
Gosling et al (2011) conducted a large (N=1MILL+) cross-sectional study examining the 5FM across a lifespan. Personality is thought to remain stable. Participants were 10-65 years old
1. C dropped at adolescent and gradually increased with age (suggesting pro social behaviour is acquired)
2. Self-disciple (similar to but not identical with SC) followed this exact trajectory. Women were generally more SC than men (concurs with Ridder et al., 2012).
3. A 65yr old is more disciplined that 85% of adolescents

Question 4

Ego depletion

Answer 4

Part of the muscle theory of SC believes that once it is used, the source of SC is depleted.
1. Burke + Miller (2016) found that participants asked to omit es and spaces when copying a transcipt were more likely to choose a carrot over chocolate afterwards.
Ego depletion did not moderate any other 5FM domains, only C - validating the idea that they are linked.

Question 5

Limitations of Gosling et al (2011) study

Answer 5

1. Cross-sectional = birth cohort effects

2. Volunteers - may have particular personalities to want to join

Question 6

Limitations of Burke + Miller (2016) study

Answer 6

HOWEVER
Those who were high in SC only resisted the chocolate if they were in the controlling group condition. Suggesting that SC must be activated.

Question 7

Why is research on C (and it’s facets) important? (3)

Answer 7

1. Roberts, Cherynchenko, Goldberg and Stark (2005) - C (out of the big5) predicts the most life outcomes and contextual performance.
2. Most research has investigated C as a composite measure (e.g., investigating just academic attainment). However, the lower-order facets have been proven as good if not better predicts of performance.
3. Little taxonomy of the lower-order facets exists. This is crucial to develop in order to understand any relationship between a personality variable and a criterion variable.

Question 8

C research and facets

Answer 8

Roberts, Cherynchenko, Goldberg, + Stark (2005) - used 373 participants to complete 7 personality inventories. Using a FA they uncovered 6 lower-order facets (Industriousness, Order, SC, Virtue, Traditionalism, Responsibility)
All had discriminant validity (did not correlate with any other big5 domain
All had criterion validity (explained some aspect of C)

Question 9

Issues with Roberts, Goldberg, Cherynchenko, Stark (2005)

Answer 9

1. Self report

2. Should have used more clinically developed scales