Unit 1 prt2 Flashcards
What are the main topics covered in ‘Assessment, Measurement, and Research Designs in Personality’?
Data sources in personality, assessment of personality measures, and research designs in personality.
What are the four main data sources in personality research?
- Self-report data (S data)
- Observer-report data (O data)
- Test data (T data)
- Life-Outcome data (L data)
What are structured and unstructured self-report data?
Structured self-report uses predefined responses (e.g., Likert scale), while unstructured self-report allows open-ended answers.
What are some issues with self-report data (S data)?
- Honesty
- Response biases
- Social desirability effects
What are the advantages of observer-report data (O data)?
- Provides access to information not available from other sources
- Allows multiple observers for reliability
Where can observer-report data (O data) be collected?
- In natural contexts
- In artificial contexts
- From professionals
- From close acquaintances
Why is test data (T data) useful in personality assessment?
It allows for standardized testing conditions, control of external variables, and objective measurement.
What are some limitations of test data (T data)?
- Reactivity (subjects altering behavior)
- Comprehension issues
- Potential researcher biases
What are some examples of test data (T data)?
- Mechanical recording devices (e.g., actometers)
- Physiological measures (e.g., fMRI)
- Projective techniques (e.g., Rorschach test)
What is life-outcome data (L data) and give examples?
Publicly available records of life events, such as marriages, divorces, fines, and criminal records.
How can self-report (S data) and observer-report (O data) be used to predict life outcomes (L data)?
Example: Childhood tantrums (O data) predicting lower military rank or lower employment status.
What is triangulation in personality research?
Using multiple data sources to improve reliability and reduce measurement errors.
What are the methods for estimating reliability in personality assessment?
- Test-retest reliability
- Internal consistency reliability
- Inter-rater reliability
What factors affect reliability in personality assessment?
- Response biases such as acquiescence
- Extreme responding
- Social desirability
What is validity in personality measurement?
The extent to which a test measures what it is intended to measure.
What are the types of validity in personality assessment?
- Content validity
- Criterion validity (predictive and concurrent)
- Construct validity (convergent and discriminant)
- Apparent validity
What is generalizability in personality assessment?
The extent to which validity holds across different people, situations, and conditions.
What are the main research designs in personality research?
- Experimental methods
- Correlational studies
- Case studies
What are the two key conditions for an experiment?
- Manipulation of the independent variable (IV)
- Randomization of participants
Why are case studies valuable in personality research?
They provide in-depth insights, explore multiple variables, and help generate theories.
