Chapter 13: Methods in the Study of Personality

Question 1

Exner Scoring System for the Rorshach Inkblot Test

Answer 1

average p (population responses)

• M=6.28
• conventional, well-adjusted

high p

• M<7
• conventional, overconforming, frequently depressed
• anxiety related to fear of making mistakes
• conforms to achieve approval

low p

• M>4
• poorly adjusted, detached, unable to see world as others do, rejection of conventionality
• possible character disorder

Question 2

4 Steps of the Scientific Method

Answer 2

1. observe and describe
2. form hypothesis
3. use hypothesis to predict something
4. test prediction using experimental methods

Question 3

Personology

Answer 3

• case study
• method of examining the whole person at once
• provides in-depth perspective
• gather information over a long period of time through various modalities

Question 4

Bias

Answer 4

• observational methods are influenced by the observer

- observations within case studies lack generalizability

Question 5

How can Generality be provided?

Answer 5

• testing assumptions with as many subjects as possible
• testing with a large variety of groups
• diversity

Question 6

Variables

Answer 6

• concept or dimension of interest
• at least two levels: sex - male/female
• can have two types of relationship: correlational, causal

Question 7

Correlation

Answer 7

• tendency of two variables to go together
• direction: positive/negative
• strength: degree of accuracy with which you can predict the values of each variable

Question 8

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 8

• r = 1.0 perfect
• 0.6-0.8: strong
• 0.3-0.6: moderatly strong
• <0.3: forget about it
• tells the direction and strength of the relationship
• positive relationship: no sign
• negative relationship: minus sign

Question 9

Significant Relationship

Answer 9

result is large enough to be unlikely a product of chance

Question 10

Common Standard of a Significant Relationship

Answer 10

• <5% or <1%

- p value: < 0.05 or 0.01

Question 11

Clinical Significance

Answer 11

result is both statistically and practically significant

Question 12

Causality

Answer 12

relationship between cause and effect

Question 13

Difference Causality and Correlation

Answer 13

Correlation: tells that there is a relationship
Causality: tells why

Question 14

Dangers of interpreting Correlation Coefficients

Answer 14

• variable could have a causal relationship, or a third variable not measured could influence both variables
• confound or “third variable problem”

Question 15

How to determine Causality

Answer 15

experimental research with IV and DV

Question 16

Eliminate Confounds

Answer 16

• increase experimental control
• standardize procedures across all subjects
• random assignment to groups: selection bias, individual differences, large sample size and random assignment

Question 17

Benefits of Correlational Studies

Answer 17

• allow study of naturally occurring differences and variables that would be unethical to manipulate
• in new areas: provide preliminary information about a potential causal relationship

Question 18

Benefits of Causal Studies

Answer 18

• allow conclusions about direct causal relationships between variables
• exceptionally important with treatment outcome research

Question 19

Limitation of Causal Studies

Answer 19

• expensive

- high validity, but low generalizability

Question 20

Multivariate Research

Answer 20

• examines relationship between 2 or more IV’s and 2 or more DV’s at the same time
• allow examination of: main effects (a change in the IV leads to the change in the DV, regardless of another IV), interaction effects (the effect of one IV depends on the value of another IV)
• provide information about the amount of variance in DV accounted for by each IV