Personality Psychology Exam #1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is personality?

A set of psychological traits and mechanisms that are organized and relatively enduring (correct)

A set of unrelated psychological traits

A temporary state of mind

A collection of random behaviors

Define psychological traits.

Characteristics that describe ways in which people are different from each other.

What is meant by psychological mechanism?

Processes of personality that often involve information-processing activities.

What does person-situation interaction focus on?

Interactionism in response to Mischel's challenge Signup and view all the answers

A strong situation refers to circumstances where nearly all people react differently.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does situational specificity refer to?

How a person acts in specific ways under particular circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

Define reliability in psychological measurement.

The degree to which an obtained measure represents the true level of the trait being measured. Signup and view all the answers

What is validity?

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure. Signup and view all the answers

Explain generalizability.

The degree to which a measure retains its validity across different contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What are response sets?

The tendency of some people to respond to questions on a basis unrelated to the question content. Signup and view all the answers

Define social desirability.

The tendency to answer items in a way that makes one appear socially attractive or likable. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 4 sources of personality data?

Self report (S), observer report (O), life outcome data (L), test data (T) Signup and view all the answers

What is self report data (S)?

Information provided by the person through surveys or interviews. Signup and view all the answers

What is observer report data (O)?

Information provided by someone else about a person. Signup and view all the answers

Define test data (T).

Information provided by behavior in testing situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is life outcome data (L)?

Information obtained from events, activities, and outcomes in a person's life available for public scrutiny. Signup and view all the answers

What is test-retest reliability?

Doing the same test twice. Signup and view all the answers

Define internal consistency reliability.

How consistently questions on questionnaires measure personality. Signup and view all the answers

What is inter-rater reliability?

The degree to which multiple observers agree with results. Signup and view all the answers

What does face validity refer to?

Looking at statements to see if they make sense. Signup and view all the answers

Define predictive (criterion) validity.

The extent to which scores on a scale predict scores on some criterion measure. Signup and view all the answers

What is convergent validity?

How questions converge with other questions. Signup and view all the answers

Define discriminant validity.

Tests whether concepts or measurements that are supposed to be unrelated are actually unrelated. Signup and view all the answers

What is construct validity?

The degree to which a test measures what it claims. Signup and view all the answers

What are some measurement issues?

Response sets, social desirability bias Signup and view all the answers

How to counteract measurement issues?

Design questions that are less susceptible to social desirability and repeat questions to detect carelessness. Signup and view all the answers

What are traits?

Distinguishing attributes of a person that capture characteristic patterns in the way they behave, feel, and think. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 basic formulations of traits?

Traits as internal causal properties and as purely descriptive summaries of expressed behavior Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Personality and Traits

Personality: A combination of psychological traits and mechanisms influencing individual interactions and adaptations to environments.
Psychological Traits: Characteristics that differentiate individuals and describe their behavior patterns.
Psychological Mechanism: Refers to the processes behind personality traits, often involving information processing.

Interactionism in Personality

Person-Situation Interaction: Explores how personality and situational factors interplay to determine behavior, challenging the consistency of traits.
Strong Situation: Scenarios where most individuals react similarly, limiting the expression of personality.
Situational Specificity: Behavior varies under specific circumstances, emphasizing the context's influence.

Measurement of Personality

Reliability: The accuracy of a measure reflecting the true level of a trait.
Validity: The degree to which a test accurately measures what it claims to assess.
Generalizability: Validity retained across diverse contexts.

Response Biases

Response Sets: Unrelated tendencies in answering questions, affecting data integrity.
Social Desirability: The inclination to respond in a manner perceived as socially favorable.

Sources of Personality Data

Four Sources: Includes self-report (S), observer report (O), life outcome (L), and test data (T).
Self Report Data (S): Information provided directly by individuals through surveys or interviews.
Observer Report Data (O): Insights from third parties observing personality traits in individuals.
Life Outcome Data (L): Information derived from significant life events observable by others.
Test Data (T): Behavioral data collected from structured testing environments.

Measurement Reliability

Test-Retest Reliability: Consistency of test results over repeated administrations.
Internal Consistency Reliability: The degree to which items on a questionnaire measure the same construct.
Inter-Rater Reliability: Agreement among multiple observers assessing the same phenomenon.

Types of Validity

Face Validity: Initial assessment of whether test items appear to measure the intended construct.
Predictive Validity: Ability of test scores to predict outcomes or criteria.
Convergent Validity: Alignment with other established measures of the same construct.
Discriminant Validity: The differentiation between constructs that are not supposed to be related.
Construct Validity: Overall assessment of what a test measures.

Measurement Challenges

Response Sets: Patterns of responding unrelated to content.
Acquiescence Bias: Predilection to agree or say "yes" in responses.
Extreme Responding: Tendency to give only highest or lowest ratings.
Moderacy Bias: Preference for middle-ground responses.
Social Desirability Bias: Adjusting responses to appear favorable.

Counteracting Measurement Issues

Bias Mitigation Techniques: Use less biased question designs, implement forced-choice formats, and repeat questions to check for inconsistencies.

Understanding Traits

Traits: Define personal attributes that encapsulate behavioral, emotional, and cognitive patterns.
Formulations of Traits:
- Internal Causal Properties: Traits viewed as underlying factors driving behavior.
- Descriptive Summaries: Traits described through observable behavior frequencies.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts in personality psychology with these flashcards. Each card features important terms and their definitions, helping you reinforce your understanding of psychological traits and mechanisms. Ideal for exam preparation or review.