Chapter 2: Methods in Study of Personality

KEEP CALM because I'm a PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT Assessment •Measuring of personality (can (can be formal/informal) •Info sources: •Direct ratings (Hawthorn affect) (watching) change of behav be being watched. •Observer ratingsley teachers/parents). •Opinions Interviews-kinds: - structured -Semi" best! -non-" (open) = very revealing. S-Data (self reported Obtained by: question interviews periodic reports to record events as happen questionaires/surveys Self reports (questionaires/surveys) give lots of info Can be "open" or "closed" f's O-data (observer) "Uses many sources to get info about person's personality ask the same & 2 diff ways eg: did you have daing this Am? What did you eat for breakfast? advantages & disadvantages. may have me info self may not -many ppl for I person inter-rater reliability. L-data (life history) events, activities, outcomes in persons life (marriage, kids, eles available to public •S & D data on predict this B-data (obsered behaviour) "Psychologist observed behaviours, trained observers (such as teacher) "Natural enviroments/situations give lots of opportunities T.data (test data) •placed participant in standardized testing situation. •situation designed to elicit personality behaviours. limitations; ppl might gures white being measured to alter response (social desirability) participants dont define situation in same way as tester "Situations interpersonal resencher might influence results advantages: On cause behaviour hard to otherwise get "allows researcher to control context & eliminate external sources "allows specific hypothesis's to be tested by exerting control over variables Mechanical Recording Devices. Can assess personality ex is actometer modified, self winding watch strapped to part extremities to assen pere difle in activity or energy levels. Buss, Block, & Block (1990) study wl preschoolers found interesting results about activity levels •Advantages: mechanical means of assessing personality wis binses "Disadvantages: not many pers dispositions and themselves to being wsewed by mech dences, les ait measure nho. I commen) Physiological Data: provide info about personis level of arousal, reactivity to terima stim & speed person takes in new info sensors can be plhard on body to measure sympathetic nervous sys. activity, BP, HR, 6 muscle contouction. •Brain venues, ex reactiving to stium, ako san be moessed Projective tests given to person who wants to talk supposed to "Uncover unconelimones" indie given standard stion, asked what an rex Rorschach & TAT (Inkblet) •Tidata be everyone sees same situation/instructices, & tout reveals betwiours & penamaliy Research methods in personality Case Studies: "Introspection. •looking into own personality •Henry Murray & personality" "Unte/structured interviews used to "did deep" be memory will distort pout to help you ope "Can reveal lots of info, that want to know & dont want to look at a bunch of info and see similarities & diffrances Correlational Studies: " Variable-dimention oriation exists trends 2 kuels) "Correlation-Variables salves go together in some sistematic ang "2 important relational aspects 1. Direction)=2150 is perfect 2. Strength (ios) "Closer to I 100, the stronges the cost. 351030 •presented as a corr. coeff or Pearson's "Cox & cause & effect, Alwangs I possibilities "most personality research: corr Clinical Method: body of techniques to study pessers in w/ special alflributes depth a context/setting •Interview - typically specialized for indepth personality exploration. "Psyc physical tents Lex. neoro exam) "Obreronkion •listening as struggle for fealing expressions Which method, when: clinicians interpretation to clarify lo gude self understanding & reaction of patient desired info dependent. •Exper Advantage show care le elled. Disadvertage-carefully controlled, short period of time, specify what aspect impatient Corr: Advantage long time period, fring info about events that exper would be matin Denduantiuge-Can't show cause & effect, only relationships