7.2 Classes Of Variables To Assess

Classes Of Variables To Assess

Classes Of Variables To Assess

• Traits, dimensions or factors (e.g. personality traits)

• States (e.g. anxiety)

• Behavioral repertoires (e.g. social skills)

• Cognitive repertoires (e.g. attributional style)

• Ideographic constructions (e.g. autobiography, meaning)

TRAITS, DIMENSIONS OR FACTORS

• Personality tests

• Characteristics

Personality tests

• Standardized self-report

• Normed scores

• They measure one or more constructs, dimensions, factors

Characteristics

• Behavior as a sign of an underlying attribute

• Indirect measure of an attribute

MMPI is applied in

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

MMPI-2 scales

• not highly accurate, but help describe personality & behaviour

• should be interpreted alongside other scales

• proper use → training & clinical experience

NEO PI-R

• Measure five broad personality domains in adults → provide personality description

• Three core domains (NEO)

• Two additional domains (AC)

Two additional domains (AC)

• Agreeableness (A)

• Conscientiousness (C)

Three core domains (NEO)

• Neuroticism (N)

• Extraversion (E)

• Openness to Experience (O)

The NEO PI-R, based on the

• Five Factor Model (FFM) → systematically assesses personality traits for professional use

NEO PI-R Administration/Scoring

• The NEO PI-R is self-administered with two parallel versions (240 items + 3 validity items)

• Form S (self-reports) is for adults, including college-aged individuals

• Form R (observer reports) is for ratings by peers, spouses, or experts

• Takes 30-40 minutes to complete (ages 17-89)

• Uses a 5-point rating scale and includes three profile forms for scoring

• Internal consistency: .86–.95 for domains, .56–.90 for facets

• Validated against other personality measures and projective techniques

• Can be scored/administered electronically via the NEO Software System

Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10)

• consists of 44 short phrases → duration: 5 minutes

• 10-item version is available, but not recommended

States (e.g. anxiety)

• Dependent on the present stimuli or situation (STAI, ISRA)

Characteristics of STATES

• Behavior as a sign of the specific state/situation

• Measures a specific dimension: anxiety, dependency, hostility

• The situations to which it refers have been selected theoretically or ideographically

• Useful for predicting behaviors

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

• helps distinguish anxiety from depression

• applied in clinical & research settings

• 40 item (20 traits/20 state) → 4-point scale

• Higher score = greater anxiety

• Suitable for individuals with a sixth-grade reading level

• strong evidence: validity & reliability

BEHAVIORAL REPERTOIRES

• Verbal reports reflecting behavior, not internal psychological constructs

• Mainly used in clinical settings (e.g., FSS-III Fear Scale, Pleasant Events Scale) to assess disorders like fears, depression, and obsessions

• Focus on physiological, motor, & cognitive behaviors based on their frequency in specific disorders

• Used as indicators of problematic behavior, not as signs of internal traits

• These behaviors are situation-specific

COGNITIVE REPERTOIRES

• Cognitive processes mediate motor behavior & physiological responses

• Cognitive-behavioral approach explains patterns

Three types of cognitive-behavior repertoires:

• Beliefs & Attributions → shape perception

• Self-messages & Self-instructions → internal thoughts

• Expectations →  Relate to behaviour outcomes & motivation

What are cognitive repertoires in psychological assessment?

• Cognitive repertoires refer to thoughts and beliefs revealed through self-reports, which indicate a person's cognitive behavior & underlying cognitive structures.

When are cognitive repertoires especially useful in psychological assessment?

• The problem is cognitive (e.g., irrational thoughts).

• Cognitive factors influence motor or physiological disorders.

• It is necessary to control cognitive variables or skills during treatment (e.g., expectations about therapy).

IDEOGRAPHIC CONSTRUCTIONS

• of the subject & NOT constructions elaborated by the psychologist

Characteristics of IDEOGRAPHIC CONSTRUCTIONS

• From very qualitative (diaries) to quantitative (lists of adjectives)

• From highly structured (list of adjectives) to unstructured (interview)