Exam 2: Personality Traits and the Inventories That Measure Them

Recall that Jackson (1975)examined the validity of self-report personality scales in predicting observer reports for the same traits,with the aim of comparing scales that were constructed according to different methods.Jackson found that scales constructed according to the ___________ method (even when constructed by students)were more valid than scales constructed according to the ___________ method (even when constructed by psychologists).

Recall that Funder,Kolar,and Blackman (1995)studied self- and observer reports of personality in students who had moved away from their home towns to attend college.Which of the following best summarizes the results of that study?

Why do researchers generally use structured measures of personality rather than projective tests?

According to the results of investigations such as that by Funder,Blackman,and Kolar (1995),which of the following best explains the existence of some agreement between self- and observer reports of a target person's personality,and between different observers' reports of that person's personality?

What can be correctly concluded from the trait-versus-situation debate?

For a well-constructed,full-length personality inventory scale,what is a typical convergent validity correlation between self-reports and observer reports,where each observer knows his or her "target" person very well?

Recall that the question of whether or not traits exist can be considered in terms of "analysis of variance".In that context,which of the following statements is most accurate?

How do projective tests differ from structured measures of personality?

Suppose that a researcher used an empirical test construction strategy to develop a scale measuring the trait of Nonconformity. The researcher had administered some personality inventory items to a small group of homeowners in a city, and then chose the items that were most strongly related to ratings (made by her assistants) of how unusual or unconventional was the appearance of each homeowner’s house and yard. Which of the following might be a problem associated with the use of this method of test construction as described above?

Recall that Mischel and Peake (1982)studied the trait of conscientiousness in university students by measuring such variables as assignment punctuality,note thoroughness,desk neatness,appointment attendance,and others.Jackson and Paunonen (1985)then re-analyzed those results.Which of the following statements is consistent with Jackson and Paunonen's findings?

Which of the following statements is most nearly the same as saying that Zachary has a high level of the personality trait of fearfulness?

In general,why do personality inventory scales typically each contain several different items? 1)To assess the various different aspects of the trait to be measured 2)To get a good measurement of what is common to the items (i.e. ,the trait to be assessed) 3)To catch people in an inconsistent pattern of responding 4)To distract respondents from the real purpose of the personality inventory.

If a personality inventory scale contained no "reverse-coded" or "negatively-keyed" items at all,what problem might that scale have?

Which of the following statements about social desirability scales is accurate? 1. These scales consist of items that describe a wide variety of socially desirable (or undesirable) tendencies. 2. These scales can accurately identify which persons are “faking” their responses on personality self-report items to appear more virtuous than they really are. 3. These scales can help in the development of personality trait scales that are not too heavily contaminated by socially desirable (or undesirable) responding.

Recall that Vazire (2010)examined the relative validity of self- and observer reports of personality.Which of the following statements is consistent with the results of her study?