Criterion-related validity of sex-restrictive and unisex interest scales: A comparison

This report describes two studies comparing the criterion-related validity of sex-balanced (“unisex”) interest inventory scales, i.e., scales designed such that the distributions of scores are similar for males and females, and traditional, sex-restrictive scales. Approximately 1600 college-bound high school seniors (Study 1) and 2000 college seniors (Study 2) completed both the ACT Interest Inventory (ACT-IV) and the new Unisex Edition of the ACT-IV (UNIACT), which contains sex-balanced items. In both studies, each participant was placed in one of six criterion groups based on the correspondence of expressed occupational choice (Study 1) and actual college major (Study 2) to Holland types. Comparable levels of criterion-related validity were obtained with the unisex scales, sex-restrictive scales, and with sex-balanced scores obtained by the traditional procedure of using same-sex norms. Study results and the results of previous research indicate that (a) psychometrically sound interest inventories can be constructed with sex-balanced items, and (b) counselors may use inventories which provide sex-balanced score reports without sacrificing validity.     

A quantitative review of the comprehensiveness of the five-factor model in relation to popular personality inventories

Reports of associations between the five-factor model (FFM) and the scales of popular personality inventories have generated controversy regarding the comprehensiveness of the FFM. The controversy is fueled by a preoccupation with capturing scale variance and differentiating between specific scales, whereas the focus should instead be on whether the FFM captures the common variance and the dimensions that exist in personality constructs. Analyses of published data revealed that the portions of scale variance captured by the FFM (mean = 38%) were substantial when evaluated in relation to the portions of common variance that exist in most personality inventories (mean = 50%). Furthermore, interbattery factor analyses indicated that the factor structures in most personality inventories can be closely replicated using data derived solely from scale associations with the FFM. Exceptions to this finding occurred for only 2 of 28 personality inventories. The findings support the comprehensiveness of the FFM.     

Cultural and sex differences in aggression: A comparison between Japanese and Spanish students using two different inventories

Two self‐report inventories developed to assess different dimensions of aggression, the Aggression Questionnaire and the EXPAGG, were administered to a sample (N = 400) of men and women undergraduates in two Japanese and Spanish universities. The factor structure of scales was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Both questionnaires showed high correlations between their respective scales. In both cultures, males reported more physical aggression, verbal aggression, and hostility as well as higher instrumental beliefs, whereas females reported more expressive representation than males. Japanese students reported more physical aggression than their Spanish counterparts, who reported more verbal aggression, hostility, and anger and more expressive representation of aggression. Aggr. Behav. 27:313–322, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Salivary testosterone and self-report aggressive and pro-social personality characteristics in men and women

Measures of salivary testosterone and the personality dimensions of aggression and pro-social behavior were obtained in 306 (155 male and 151 female) university students. Each participant provided two samples of saliva and completed ten self-report personality scales from multiple inventories. A factor analysis of the personality scales produced two factors, an aggression factor and a pro-social behavior factor. Men averaged five times the amount of salivary testosterone as women (99 pg/ml vs. 18.5 pg/ml) and rated themselves as more aggressive and less nurturant. Within each sex, testosterone was positively correlated with aggression and negatively correlated with pro-social personality. Structural equation modelling analyses suggested that a direct effect model best described the relationship between salivary testosterone and the latent personality dimensions of aggression and pro-social behavior. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A Comparative Study of Integrity Tests: The Criterion-Related Validity of Personality-Based and Overt Measures of Integrity

In the field of personality assessment, one construct or set of constructs that is emerging as important for both publishers and users of psychological testing has been labelled variously as integrity, conscientiousness, reliability, delinquency, or responsibility. The associated organizational outcome has been broadly labelled counterproductivity. In the present study, four integrity scales, selected scales from mainstream personality inventories, derived molar integrity factors and optimal scale linear combinations were correlated with admissions of counterproductivity. It was found that (a) all four integrity scales were significantly correlated with the counterproductivity criterion, (b) individual personality scales from normal personality inventories, as well as unit-weighted linear combinations of them, were approximately as highly correlated with counterproductivity as were the integrity tests, and (c) personality traits conceptually distinct from the domain of integrity were also related to counterproductivity.     

Concurrent validity and Holland's theory

This study was designed to explore two areas: (1) the concurrent validity of Holland's theory for employed men using four different operational definitions of vocational orientation, and (2) the relationships among all possible combinations of same named scales across the four inventories. Concurrent validity was studied by administering the Vocational Preference Inventory, the Self Directed Search, and the Holland Scales (Set I and Set II) to 153 male workers established in occupational environments consistent with Holland's six vocational environments. The results revealed that five scales of the VPI and of the Holland Scales (Set I and Set II) and four scales of the SDS successfully differentiated the occupational groups consistent with Holland's theoretical framework. The correlation coefficients for same named scales for all possible combinations of the four inventories were all found to be significant. In general, the findings of this study tend to support the concurrent validity of Holland's theory for employed men.     

Adolescents' approval of peer and spousal retribution in their culture vs. other cultures: The role of group stereotypes

This study examined whether negative group stereotypes similarly affect adolescents' reasoning about peer and spousal retribution in interpersonal situations. Findings from cognitive domain theory, school violence, family violence, and group stereotyping and prejudice literatures were used to examine this. The sample of adolescents was drawn from northern and central Israel and consisted of 1,168 Arab and Jewish students (grades 7–11). A quasi‐experimental between‐subject design was used, in which the students in each grade were randomly assigned to one of two peer retribution scenarios and one of two spousal retribution scenarios. In each scenario, only the ethnicity of the peers and married couples depicted in the story was systematically altered. The study was a 2 (Arab/Jewish respondent) 2 (peer retribution scenarios) 2 (spousal retribution scenarios) factorial design. The findings provide evidence that Arab and Jewish students have negative stereotypes about one another; however, these group stereotypes did not affect their judgments and justifications about peer and spousal retribution. Jewish and Arab students judged peer retribution similarly, but differed in their judgments of spousal retribution. However, altering the ethnic background of the individuals in the scenarios did not affect respondents' judgments. This suggests that respondents in both groups did not base their judgments on negative stereotypes about the out‐group, but instead were focusing on the behavioural act itself. Overall, the vast majority of respondents condemned retribution based on moral, social conventional and personal reasons. This inquiry provides evidence that it was the number of justifications endorsed within a specific domain that distinguished Arab and Jewish respondents. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Using Personality Item Characteristics to Predict Single‐Item Internal Reliability,Retest Reliability,and Self–Other Agreement

The use of reliability estimates is increasingly scrutinized as scholars become more aware that test–retest stability and self–other agreement provide a better approximation of the theoretical and practical usefulness of an instrument than its internal reliability. In this study, we investigate item characteristics that potentially impact single‐item internal reliability, retest reliability, and self–other agreement. Across two large samples (N = 6690 and N = 4396), two countries (Estonia and The Netherlands), and two personality inventories (the NEO PI‐3 and the HEXACO‐PI‐R), results show that (i) item variance is a strong predictor of self–other agreement and retest reliability but not of single‐item internal reliability; (ii) item variance mediates the relations between evaluativeness and self–other agreement; and (iii) self–other agreement is predicted by observability and item domain. On the whole, weak relations between item length, negations, and item position (indicating effects of questionnaire length) on the one hand, and single‐item internal reliability, retest reliability, and self–other agreement on the other, were observed. In order to increase the predictive validity of personality scales, our findings suggest that during the construction of questionnaire items, researchers are advised to pay close attention especially to item variance, but also to evaluativeness and observability. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology     

Criterion‐related validity of a Big Five general factor of personality from the TIPI to the IPIP

The criterion validity of a general factor of personality (GFP) extracted from personality scales of various lengths was explored in relation to organizational behavior and subjective well‐being with 288 employed students. Results indicated that GFPs extracted from as few as 10 items were significantly related to organizational outcomes. The relationship between GFP scores and outcomes generally increased with the length of the underlying scales, but these differences were reduced when correcting for reliability. Additionally, in over 60% of the analyses the GFPs exhibited higher correlations with specific outcomes compared to specific Big Five scores; this was true of 100% of the analyses using a broad, composite criterion. These results highlight the potential utility of the GFP as a screening tool when extracted from Big Five inventories from 10 to 100 items.     

Hardiness and major personality factors.

This study tested Maddi and Khoshaba's 1994 hypothesis that Hardiness is an index of mental health. A sample of 241 undergraduates (103 men and 138 women) completed the Dispositional Resilience Scale, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, and the Psychopathology-5 Scales. Using the individual median scores on the three subscales (Commitment, Control, and Challenge) of the Dispositional Resilience Scale, the High Hardiness group was obtained by identifying the individuals who scored above the medians on all the three subscales, whereas the Low Hardiness group were those who scored consistently below the medians on all the three subscales. Multivariate analysis of variance performed for the two hardiness groups using the scales from each personality inventory indicated that the two groups had significantly different mean profiles on the NEO Personality Inventory as well as the Psychopathology-5 Scales. Combined discriminant function analysis performed for the two hardiness groups using all the 10 scales from the two personality inventories indicated that the two groups had significantly different mean profiles and that the standard discriminant function coefficients were substantial (> .3) for the NEO Personality Inventory Openness (.65) and Conscientiousness (.49) scales and the Psychopathology-5 Positive Emotionality (.56) and Psychoticism (-.36) scales, supporting the tested hypothesis.     

A factorial study of the multiphasic,strong, kuder,and bell inventories using a population of adult males

In a centroid factor analysis of the Multiphasic, Strong, Kuder, and Bell inventories using a population of 400 adult males, eight common factors dealing with aspects of personality as measured by these instruments were isolated. Seven of the factors were meaningful and one was a residual. This study indicates little overlap between the two personality and the two interest inventories. It would appear that factors found in these instruments measuring aspects of personality are dichotomous in nature and are not common to the two types of instruments included in this study. That is, two of the factors were common to the two personality inventories, and five of the factors were common to the two interest inventories.Abstract of dissertation submitted at Syracuse University, January, 1949, in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education.     

Reliability,stability, and relationships between infant and parent temperament

Reliability, stability, and relationships between infant and parent temperament were assessed using infant adaptations of 2 childhood temperament inventories. Both scales were moderately reliable, stability was moderate for the 4- to 18-month periods, and significant correlations were noted between mother and infant temperament ratings.     

Authoritarianism,child-rearing practices and ethnocentrism in seven Pacific Islands groups

Data were collected from seven cultural groups in the South Pacific in order to examine the relationship between authoritarian child-rearing practices and ethnocentrism. An analysis of the data within each cultural group showed that there were inter-cultural differences in the structure of child-rearing pratices. In particular authoritarianism scales were obtained in the Tahitian, Cook Islands and Samoan groups and these scales were significantly correlated with measures of ethnocentrism. Scales which were close variants of authoritarianism were obtained in the Tongan and Fiji-Indian groups and these scales were also significantly correlated with ethnocentrism. The scales obtained in the Fijian and New Hebrides groups, however, did not appear to be closely related to authoritarianism and these two groups showed less inter-individual variation than the other cultural groups.     

A Comparison of Four Personality Inventories

Summary: The equivalence of personality constructs measured by four rationally devised inventories was tested by means of a factor analytic approach. The tests were administered to large high school and college samples. Separate analysis of each inventory were followed by analysis of pooled scales representing each factor found in any inventory. Twelve dimensions were found to be common to two or more inventories and consistent across the two samples. The results indicate a convergence on a set of basic personality constructs measurable and equivalent in several inventories.     

Impulsivity in adults: motor inhibition and time-interval estimation

There is a need for the development of behavioral measures of impusivity in order to elucidate the specific qualities of impulsive persons. The relationships between two behavioral measures of impulsivity and several personality inventories frequently used to assess inpulsivity were examined using 40 male Ss. The behavioral measures involved a motor-inhibition (MI) task and time-interval (TI) estimation. The personality measures included the Extraversion (E), Psychoticism (P) and Neuroticism (N) scales of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Barrat's Impulsivity Scale (BIS) and Gough's Socialization Scale (So). Significant relationships between MI scores and E, BIS and a proposed dimension of impulsivity obtained by the formation of E-P quadrants were found. In addition, performance on this task was related to So, P and E-N quadrants in the predicted directions. The consistency of these results supports the use of this task as a behavioral measure of impusivity in adults. Although personality inventory scores were not related to estimations, significant (negative) correlations were obtained between TI estimations and MI scores. The results indicate that TI estimation by itself is not an adequate measure of impulsivity, but does have implications for understanding impulsive behavior.     

Psychometric validation of two Procrastination inventories for adults: Arousal and avoidance measures

Lay's (1986) General Procrastination (GP) and McCown and Johnson's (1989) Adult Inventory for Procrastination (AIP) measures were evaluated across two studies. In Study 1, both inventories were administered to two groups of college students (Sample 1 n=52; Sample 2 n=59), who were asked to return completed scales before the end of the semester. Students' attendance rates at study groups, test grades, and time required to complete multiple choice items on two exams also were recorded. Results indicated that high procrastination scores were related to a higher number of days to return completed inventories but not attendance, exams scores, or test-taking time. In Study 2, nontraditional age university students (n=215) were asked to complete procrastination measures as well as sensation-seeking, need for cognition, and self-esteem inventories. Factor analysis indicated that scores on Lay's (1986) scale loaded on sensation-seeking, while McCown and Johnson's (1989) scale loaded negatively with need for cognition and self-esteem variables. It would appear that although the scales assessed procrastinatory behavior, one inventory is indicative of sensation-seeking and the other the avoidance of poor self-esteem.Data for Study 1/Sample 1 and Study 2 were collected when the author was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Baruch College/CUNY. The author thanks instructors for permitting class time to be devoted to the data collection process. Also, the author thanks Bill McCown and Clarry Lay for editing an early draft of this paper.     

Sex role development as a function of college experiences

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of college experiences on androgyny. One hundred and thirty-nine freshman and 57 senior women completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) as well as measures to assess precollege variables, including a biographical questionnaire, a life experience survey, a measure of parental identification, and parental sex role inventories. In addition, seniors completed measures that assessed college experiences. Almost all of the scales on the two precollege questionnaires that measured parental variables were found related to student's sex role. Consequently, all remaining relationships with sex role were examined with and without controlling for these parental scales. None of the variables that measured college experiences were found to be significantly related to sex role. The results did not support the hypothesis that seniors would assume a more masculine sex role than freshmen. However, the seniors did obtain significantly lower scores than freshmen on the BSRI Femininity scale.     

大学生性别角色量表(CSRI)的编制

以社会刻板印象和社会赞许性为基础编制了中国大学生性别角色量表,同时使用正性和负性量表,测量了３８０名大学生。结果显示该量表有较好的信度和效度。运用此量表将大学生分为男性化、女性化、双性化、未分化四种性别角色类型,在男性中分别占２４.７％、１５.４％、３１．５％、２８．４％,在女性中分别占２２．５％、２８．０％、２５.０％、２４．５％。该研究与西方已有同类量表不同之处在于引入了负性量表,文中对其作用进行了深入的讨论。