Personality Week 2

Data, Methods, and Tools

Psychologists use what to research personality

They use a wide range of strategies (interviews, scans, etc.) to figure out how diverse aspects about an individual relate to each other.

Interviews

Oldest method for studying personality, favorite for psychodynamic clinicians, can be expensive and time consuming, quick self-reports are often preferred.

Test

Any standardized measure of behavior, including verbal behavior.

Self-Reports

tests that include statements people make about themselves (scales like never to always, very low to very high).

Performance measures

Examining specific abilities, sampling behavior in particular situations.

Projective Measures

Assessor present an ambiguous stimuli, like an ink blot, no right or wrong answer but ask how it makes you feel or what it reminds you of.

Naturalistic Observation

Some investigators prefer to observe behavior as it naturally occurs, one way mirrors are sometimes used. Allow for examination of life problems and select treatment objectives. (Bobo doll experiment - each action is quantified)

Remote Behavior Sampling

Phone beeps at randomly determined times of the day. When “beeper” sounds, respondents record thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, depending on what the researcher or therapist is assessing.

EEG - Electroencephalograph

A cap that measures electricity in the brain. You can add electrodes for more information. Best for locating WHEN things happen, not pinpoint where.

PET- Positron Emission Tomography

Invasive, binds to regions that consume glucose. Use neurotransmitter specific tracers, like where serotonin receptors are. More expensive than fMRI.

EEG Spatial Resolution

Low, hard to tell where electricity is going compared to other forms.

EEG Temporal Resolution

Good, records activity right away when it happens.

PET Spatial Resolution

Lower than fMRI but better than EEG.

fMRI - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Most preferred and widely used. You can see functional information and different parts/structure of the brain. You can show certain stimuli and see where the brain interacts. Need a baseline.

GSR - Galvanic Skin Response

Measures sweat and hormones released through the skin in certain scenarios.

Hormonal Measures

Endocrine system and hormonal. Like cortisol, it shows what peaks when and the natural rhythm. Detected through saliva, blood, hair, nails, and urine.

ERP - Event Related Potentials

Shown stimuli and see how brain activity changes in comparison to neutral.

Priming

Present a stimulus just before another stimulus, can alter an person’s response or reaction time. Central method to see how people differ in automatic reactions. (Video of counting paper or counting money - money made ppl eat more candy).

Memory Tasks

Used to examine the types of mistakes people make in remembering. Example: saying 10 words and have the person write down as many as remembered.

Constructs

Concepts that refer to classes (categories) of behavior - universal scale and can be replicated.

Operationalization

Translates constructs into something observable and measurable.

Measure Aggression Operationally

Archival records, such as school suspensions or arrests. Or, self reporting anger levels.

Define the Construct of Aggression

Intentional and motivated behavior with the intent to hurt another. Target is a living being.

Variable

An attribute, quality, or characteristic that can be given 2 or more values (example: height)

Correlation

Some variables are associated. (Height and Weight).

Correlation Coefficient

r

-1 to 0 Correlation

Negative slope and negative correlation, if variable A is increasing then variable B is decreasing.

0 to 1 Correlation

Positive slope, if variable A is increasing then variable B is too.

0 Correlation

Flat slope, no correlation.

Strength of Correlation

Increased the closer you get to -1 and 1.

Statistical Significance

Shows how likely it is that an association is not due to chance.

Statistical Significance Coefficient

p

Correlation is NOT:

Causation, there could be another variable at play.

p < .05

Observed effect is unlikely to happen by pure chance (reject null). Statistically significant.

p > .05

Observed effect could easily happen by pure chance. Not statistically significant.

Temporal Reliability

When the same test is given to the same group of people on two occasions, a retest correlation shows this.

Internal Consistency

The correlation between parts of a single form.

Experiment in Psychology

Requires a manipulation

Experimental Group

The cohort that receives the manipulated condition.

Control Group

Cohort that is not subjected to the independent variable.

Independent Variable

The condition that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

The resulting behavior that is measured.

Remote Behavior Sampling Advantage

High in external validity, you get more data points because you aren’t in a lab and get real life examples.

How is trait level different from psychodynamic-motivational level?

Trait theories focus on measurable and consistent characteristics’ psychoanalytic theories stress unconscious conflicts.

Phenomenological-Humanistic Level

Level of personality analysis that focuses on subjective experience, feelings, and growth.