Download Personaltiy Research: speculation about the nature of personality

Chapter 2
Personality Research: speculation about the nature of personality.
Through observation, knowledge of previous theory and research, and careful speculation,
researchers generate hypothesis about why people behave the way they do.
Experimental methods: used to collect data
Studies contribute to understanding of personality—basic foundation of knowledge.
Theory: general statement about relationship between constructs, variables or events.
Lens to look through, a general framework
Characteristic of good theory: parsimonious---to explain in relatively simple terms,
the simpler explanation preferred.
Theory should be useful—can generate testable hypothesis, and can be tested through
scientific investigation.
(Example of demons as cause of disorders)
Good research moves from theory to prediction to experiment.
Why Prediction??
The steps in the experimental process include the following:
testable hypothesis—a formal prediction about relationship between 2 or more variables.
May evolve from theories.
Research confirms predictions/hypothesis –theory is accurate in its description
Experimental Research: allows researchers to determine the causes of behavior.
Independent variables –what is manipulated or changed by experimenters-- type of
treatment.
Dependent variables: factors that are measured in an experiment: what is measured to see if
effected by change in independent variable
Important consideration: Operational definitions—define in terms of observable events
or behaviors that can be measured.
Specifically define what behaviors or variable will be measured.
Manipulated vs Nonmanipulated Variables
Manipulated: randomly assigns large # participants into experimental groups.
Independent variable introduced, results observed. Differences between groups in DV a
result of IV
Nonmanipulated: not randomly assigned to groups, groups may be formed without action
on researcher’s part. Can not assume groups nearly identical on average at beginning, so
differences in groups in the results, due to individual differences, and not from research
question or IV. No cause and effect.
Replication: to repeat a study; results similar? The more often an effect is found in
research, more confidence in conclusions.
further studies may look at different populations—effects apply to larger # people
Case Study: in-depth evaluation of single individual or a few individuals. Focus is ind’s
history, current behavior and changes in behavior as being studied. Descriptive
Freud used in-depth analysis of patients when formulating ideas about personality.
Allport, Rogers—case study
Limitations: problem generalizing from one case to other people. Problem determining
cause-effect relationships.
Investigator’s subjective judgments may interfere with scientific objectivity(find info that
confirms hypothesis, overlook other info)
Strengths: many personality concepts not easily examined.
Generates hypotheses about nature of human personality.
4 situations case study useful:
examining a rare case
when ind. studied is essentially no different from all normal people on the
dimension of interest—split brain
to illustrate a treatment
to demonstrate possibilities—example hypnosis—some possibilities of using
hypnosis
Personality assessment—measuring personality. Surveys, tests.
Issues with personality assessment tools:
Reliability—does test measure consistently over time. Score on IQ test reliable, if
next
Researchers must use subjective judgments in deciding if tests are reliable and valid
enough for their needs.