Unit 1.2: Assessment, measurement and research designs in personality Flashcards
How can you classify data sources?
Self-report data
Observer-report data
Test data
Life-outcome data
(L.O.S.T.)
Self-report data
people have lots of information about themselves
Structure:
- strucutred: different types of answers (true/false, forced choice)
- unstructured: e.g. tell me what parties are to you
potential problem: honesty
Observer-report data
access to information not available through other sources
allows use of more than one observer
Who observes observer-report data?
professionals, close people, whoever makes sense
Where is observer report data observed?
natural
artificial context
What are standardised tests useful for and how are they carried out?
placing participants in specific, standardised situation to assess behaviour
What are the limitations of observer-report data?
Reactivity: people try to alter their responses if they realise theyre being observed
Comprehension: do researchers and participants understand the situation in the same way
Influence: generation of biases by researchers
Why is observer-report data useful?
provoke behaviours that are difficult to observe
control context and eliminate strange variables
What kinds of T data are there?
Mechanical recording devices
Electronic and internet recording devices
Physiological data
(projective data)
What is life outcome data?
Information on events and activities available to general public
Use of S or O data to predict L data
What are some issues of personality assessment?
Relationships between data sources:
- normally agreements not very high
- Different point of view (alternative measures on same construct/ measurements of different phenomena)
Reliability of personality measurement
How is the issue of reliability of personality measurement solved?
Triangulation
Which types of reliability are there?
Test-retest
Internal consistency
Inter-rater
