Showing papers in "Journal of Individual Differences in 2008"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the six facets that make up each of the Big Five traits as well as those traits themselves, and looked separately at the music genres that made up the four music dimensions identified by Rentfrow and Gosling (2003).
Abstract: . Through the development of the Short Test of Musical Preferences (STOMP) and a larger theory of music preferences, Rentfrow and Gosling (2003, 2006) have helped guide the way toward understanding the role of music in people's lives, and the relationship between music preferences and personality. The four music dimensions they established in their 2003 study provide a broad-brush look at some of the relationships between music preferences and personality. This study of 83 undergraduates at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, used the NEO-PI, rather than the Big Five Inventory, which allowed us to examine the six facets that make up each of the Big Five traits as well as those traits themselves, and it looked separately at the music genres that make up the four music dimensions identified by Rentfrow and Gosling (2003). The findings provide general support for Rentfrow and Gosling's work, but they also demonstrate that the personality patterns for the specific music genres differ considerably from...
113 citations
TL;DR: In this article, 66 sales consultants from a sports organization completed the NEO-FFI and scores were correlated with their sales performance, and conscientiousness and openness did show a positive relationship and agreeableness a negative relationship with sales, however, extraversion and Neuroticism showed no statistically significant relationship.
Abstract: . Research and meta-analysis has suggested that individuals with high Conscientiousness and Extraversion, as well as low Neuroticism, perform better in sales occupations. In the present study 66 sales consultants from a sports organization completed the NEO-FFI and scores were correlated with their sales performance. Conscientiousness and Openness did show a positive relationship and Agreeableness a negative relationship with sales, however, Extraversion and Neuroticism showed no statistically significant relationship. The implications of these results and the applicability of the Five Factor model or personality traits for personnel selection are discussed.
103 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the correlates of self-estimated levels of the eight abilities of Gardner's (1983) "multiple intelligences" framework and concluded that high levels of self estimated ability were related to being male, having high measured ability, and being high in Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience, and low in Emotionality.
Abstract: This study examined the correlates of self-estimated levels of the eight abilities of Gardner's (1983) "multiple intelligences" framework. Participants (N = 200) estimated their own levels of the eight abilities, completed two maximum performance tests of each ability, and provided self-ratings of their personality characteristics. As observed in previous research, most participants tended to overestimate their levels of ability in most of the intelligence domains. Self-estimated ability levels were generally only modestly correlated with measured levels of the same ability, and tended to show equally strong correlations with personality variables. Sex differences were observed for self-estimates of some abilities, and these sex differences were largely independent of measured ability and personality. It was concluded that high levels of self-estimated ability were related to being male, having high measured ability, and being high in Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience, and low in Emotionality.
55 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined how different facets of work ethic ideology may be rooted in the basic personality construct of conscientiousness and found that the conscientiousness facets of dutifulness and achievement striving were the two most consistent predictors of seven dimensions of work-ethics ideology.
Abstract: Prior research on work ethic ideology has tended to neglect the multidimensional nature of such ideology. To examine how different facets of work ethic ideology may be rooted in the basic personality construct of conscientiousness, 299 Americans completed a 133-item online survey that contained six facets of conscientiousness and seven different dimensions of work ethic ideology. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the conscientiousness facets of dutifulness and achievement striving were the two most consistent predictors of seven dimensions of work ethic ideology. Subsequent dominance analyses suggested that achievement striving, followed by dutifulness, tended to predict the most work ethic dimensions. Discussion focuses on the theoretical importance of using work ethic dimensions rather than global work ethic scores in future research.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of emotional states on creativity depends on individual emotional characteristics as well as the type of task used, and the results found during the last 30 years diverge concerning relationships between emotion and creative cognition.
Abstract: The present study shows that the impact of emotional states on creativity depends on individual emotional characteristics as well as the type of task used. The results found during the last 30 years diverge concerning relationships between emotion and creative cognition. For this reason, we conducted a study to explore whether the impact of emotional states on creative potential is moderated by individuals emotional traits. Using a multivariate approach, we measured (1) emotional valence and arousal level of participants after an emotional induction, (2) emotional traits (e.g., alexithymia, emotional expressivity, affective intensity, emotional idiosyncrasy), and (3) quantity, originality, and valence of generated ideas in two distinct divergent thinking tasks. Participants were 107 undergraduate university students. Regression analyses confirm our hypothesis showing that the impact of emotional states on creative performance is not uniform, but depends on participants emotional state and emotion-relate...
51 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a short version of the SPSRQ was proposed, which had an improved factor structure, good item properties, and acceptable reliability, and was tested with an independent sample (N = 327).
Abstract: The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) has been proposed as a measure of the behavioral approach system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS). Previous research with the SPSRQ has highlighted potential problems with the factor structure of the measure and individual item properties. The aim of the current studies was to use factor analytic and item response theory (IRT) methods to examine the psychometric properties of the SPSRQ. A further aim was to develop a short version of the SPSRQ. In Study 1, 393 adult participants completed the SPSRQ. The results from this study highlighted problems with the factor structure and item properties that had been noted in previous research. On this basis, a short form of the measure was proposed. In Study 2, the short form of the SPSRQ was tested with an independent sample (N = 327). These analyses suggested the short form of the SPSRQ had an improved factor structure, good item properties, and acceptable reliability.
47 citations
TL;DR: The authors explored the stability of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) depending on contextual constraints and chronic accessibility and found that implicit measures like the IAT are sensitive to contextual constraints.
Abstract: The current research explored the stability of the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) depending on contextual constraints and chronic accessibility. Two studies incorporated background pictures into the IAT. In Study 1, the 2-week stability of an IAT assessing anxiety was higher when IAT stimuli were embedded in an anxiety-relevant background (e.g., a snake). In Study 2, this context effect could be replicated in the domain of racial attitudes. Moreover, the context effect in Study 2 was especially pronounced for participants with high chronic access to the relevant concept. The results support the assumption that implicit measures like the IAT are sensitive to contextual constraints and that these constraints can be utilized to enhance the stability of the IAT.
45 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of instruction (TP: typical performance vs. MP: maximum performance) on EMA scores, using a within-subjects design (n = 151), were tested.
Abstract: Based on our previous research on intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional management abilities (EMA; Freudenthaler & Neubauer, 2005, 2007), the present study examined the effects of instruction (TP: typical performance vs. MP: maximum performance) on EMA scores, using a within-subjects design (n = 151). In addition, the relations of TP-EMA and MP-EMA to sex, cognitive intelligence, and personality traits, as well as indicators of well-being, were tested. Results showed not only lower means but also higher reliabilities in the TP condition than in the MP condition. While women outperformed men in interpersonal EMA in both instruction conditions, men scored higher than women on intrapersonal TP-EMA. As expected, only MP-EMA were significantly correlated with cognitive intelligence. In contrast, TP-EMA showed more overlap with personality and were also substantially related to life satisfaction and depression. Most of the correlations between TP-EMA and predicted outcome measures remained significant when sex, personality (Big Five), and cognitive intelligence were controlled for. In sum, the findings provide further evidence of the importance to distinguish between typical and maximum performance in research on emotional intelligence measures and their application.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of the perfor- mance factor task complexity by using two versions of the Mental Rotations Test (MRT) was investigated. And the results showed that the complexity manipulation did not affect the gender differences at all.
Abstract: Gender differences are one of the main topics in mental rotation research. This paper focuses on the influence of the perfor- mance factor task complexity by using two versions of the Mental Rotations Test (MRT). Some 300 participants completed the test without time constraints, either in the regular version or with a complexity reducing template creating successive two-alternative forced-choice tasks. Results showed that the complexity manipulation did not affect the gender differences at all. These results were supported by a sufficient power to detect medium effects. Although performance factors seem to play a role in solving mental rotation problems, we conclude that the variation of task complexity as realized in the present study did not.
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the two models of personality proposed by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS) and by the short-form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-S) and found that the KTS scales map in quite a complex way onto the model of personality suggested by the EPQR S.
Abstract: The two models of personality proposed by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS) and by the short-form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-S) both propose measures of extraversion-introversion, but in other respects the two models are quite different. While the KTS proposes measures of sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving, the EPQR-S proposes measures of neuroticism, psychoticism, and a lie scale. In order to test the comparability of the two indices of extraversion-introversion and the independence of the other constructs, a sample of 554 undergraduate students attending a university-sector college in South Wales, in the United Kingdom, completed the KTS and the EPQR-S. The data demonstrate that the Keirsey Temperament Sorter scales map in quite a complex way onto the model of personality proposed by the EPQR-S.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the DOG Scale demonstrated reasonable factorial, discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity, providing additional support for the measure's construct validity, and evaluated the factorial validity of the measure and tested for convergent and discriminant validity.
Abstract: . Since the 1960s Rokeach's conception and measurement of dogmatism has dominated the landscape of dogmatism research. In 1996, Altemeyer proposed a new conception of dogmatism, suggesting that it is best defined as an unchangeable and unjustified certainty in one's beliefs. This conception was operationalized in the form of the DOG Scale with validity evidence generally coming in the form of relationships between the measure and several criterion-related variables. The present study assessed the factorial validity of the measure and tested for convergent and discriminant validity. Criterion-related validity evidence was also reconsidered. The DOG Scale demonstrated reasonable factorial, discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity, providing additional support for the measure's construct validity.
TL;DR: Theories regarding susceptibility to emotional contagion, which address the ease of "catching" the emotions expressed by others, have recently received growing interest in the field of social psych... as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Theories regarding susceptibility to emotional contagion, which address the ease of "catching" the emotions expressed by others, have recently received growing interest in the field of social psych ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the structure of sensation seeking in representative samples of males taken from the general population (N = 397) and male prison inmates (n = 183) and found that prison inmates score significantly higher in all dimensions (except on E, as measured by the EPQ-R).
Abstract: In 1994 Zuckerman proposed an impulsive and unsocialized form of sensation seeking. Studies considering physical risk seekers (prosocial and antisocial) associate this dimension with Eysenck’s psychoticism (P) and neuroticism (N), as well as with the following subtraits from Zuckerman’s model of sensation seeking: experience seeking (ES), disinhibition (Dis), and boredom susceptibility (BS). The present study explores the structure of sensation seeking in representative samples of males taken from the general population (N = 397) and male prison inmates (N = 183). The results focus on three main points of interest. First, prison inmates score significantly higher in all dimensions (except on E, as measured by the EPQ-R). Second, factor analysis findings show a two factor solution. Dis, ES, and thrill and adventure seeking (TAS) load on the first factor, and this happens for both samples. P, BS, and Dis load on the second factor. These factors are correlated. Finally, a stepwise discriminant analysis shows...
TL;DR: In this article, structural homogeneity in other scales that are also composed of equal numbers of positively and negatively worded items suggests two alternative structures: a general optimism dimension or the combination of two specific dimensions representing social optimism and social pessimism.
Abstract: This paper reports an investigation of the structure of the social optimism scale. Research on structural homogeneity in other scales that are also composed of equal numbers of positively and negatively worded items suggests two alternative structures: a general optimism dimension or the combination of two specific dimensions representing social optimism and social pessimism. Since positively and negatively worded items can be regarded as two different observational methods, the combination of a general optimism dimension and two independent method dimensions needs to be considered. In order to achieve a satisfactory model fit, the three subscales of the social optimism scale have to be modeled as additional, uncorrelated dimensions. Investigating the different proposed models with structural equation modeling provides support for the position of a general optimism dimension and two independent method dimensions.
TL;DR: For instance, this article found that scores on self-report measures of visual imagery experience correlate primarily with the egoistic form of social-desirable responding, which is the measure of social desirable responding used was the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR; Paulhus, 2002).
Abstract: Allbutt, Ling, and Shafiullah (2006) and Allbutt, Shafiullah, and Ling (2006) found that scores on self-report measures of visual imagery experience correlate primarily with the egoistic form of social-desirable responding. Here, three studies are reported which investigated whether this pattern of findings generalized to the ratings of imagery vividness in the auditory modality, a new version of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (Marks, 1995), and reports of visual thinking style. The measure of social- desirable responding used was the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR; Paulhus, 2002). Correlational analysis repli- cated the pattern seen in our earlier work and of the correlations with the egoistic bias, the correlation with vividness of visual imagery was largest and significant, the correlation with visual thinking style next largest and approached significance, and the correlation with vividness of auditory imagery was the smallest and not significant. The size of these correlations mirrored the extent to which the three aspects of imagery were valued by participants.
TL;DR: In this article, a revised version of the Appetitive Motivation Scale (AMS) was presented, which was shown to be more strongly related to a reward-reactivity factor than an impulsivity factor relative to other putative BAS measures.
Abstract: The Appetitive Motivation Scale (AMS; Jackson & Smillie, 2004) represents a recent attempt to conceptualize individual differences in the functioning of Gray's (1981) Behavioral Activation/Approach System (BAS). In this paper we subject the AMS to psychometric scrutiny via factor analysis, item response theory (IRT) analysis, and concurrent construct validation. In Study 1 (N = 1,366 university students, 53% male), results from factor analysis (FA) and IRT led to the removal of several problematic items from the scale. The revised AMS was shown to have improved unidimensional structure and item properties. In Study 2 (N = 122 university students, 20% male), correlational data and factor analysis indicated that the revised AMS was: (1) highly related to the original scale along with various BAS-related measures, and (2) more strongly related to a reward-reactivity factor than an impulsivity factor, relative to other putative BAS measures. We conclude that the improved AMS is a promising tool for future research
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined whether SA and mental speed are empirically the same or different constructs and found that SA was highly related to MS task classes: substitution and perceptual speed.
Abstract: Mental speed (MS) and sustained attention (SA) are theoretically distinct constructs. However, tests of MS are very similar to SA tests that use time pressure as an impeding condition. The performance in such tasks largely relies on the participants’ speed of task processing (i.e., how quickly and correctly one can perform the simple cognitive tasks). The present study examined whether SA and MS are empirically the same or different constructs. To this end, 24 paper-pencil and computerized tests were administered to 199 students. SA turned out to be highly related to MS task classes: substitution and perceptual speed. Furthermore, SA showed a very close relationship with the paper-pencil MS factor. The correlation between SA and computerized speed was considerably lower but still high. In a higher-order general speed factor model, SA had the highest loading on the higher-order factor; the higher-order factor explained 88% of SA variance. It is argued that SA (as operationalized with tests using time press...
TL;DR: This article analyzed the standardization data of the most recent Wechsler scales for both children and adults from several different countries and found no evidence to support either the ability or age version of SLODR by using large normative samples for the WISC-IV from the United States, Canada, and Australia, and for the WAIS-III from the same three countries and also from The Netherlands.
Abstract: In order to explain observed variations in intelligence test scores, Spearman (1927) proposed the “law of diminishing returns” (SLODR). It states that the g saturation of cognitive ability tests decreases as a function of ability or age. Published studies have shown mixed results. However, a recent review (Hartmann & Nyborg, 2004) suggests that there is evidence for differences in g saturation by ability level, but that observed age effects on g saturation are most likely to be a consequence of the ability effect. The current study analyzed the standardization data of the most recent Wechsler scales for both children and adults from several different countries. This study did not find evidence to support either the ability or age version of SLODR by using large normative samples for the WISC-IV from the United States, Canada, and Australia, and for the WAIS-III from the same three countries and also from The Netherlands.
TL;DR: The authors examined the validity of two Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) scales -Gender Masculine (GM) and Gender Feminine (GF) - in discriminating between the gender types -Masculine, High GM/Low GF); Feminine, Low GM/High GF; Androgynous (High GM/high GF); and Undifferentiated (Low GM/low GF) and Undetected (Low GF) in cross-national clinical samples.
Abstract: . The present study examined the validity of two Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) scales - Gender Masculine (GM) and Gender Feminine (GF) - in discriminating between the gender types - Masculine (High GM/Low GF); Feminine (Low GM/High GF); Androgynous (High GM/High GF) and Undifferentiated (Low GM/Low GF), in cross-national clinical samples. The study consisted of 70 Singaporean and 107 Australian psychiatric patients. Significant pairwise comparisons were found for Undifferentiated-Stereotyped Masculinity, Undifferentiated-Androgynous, Stereotyped Femininity-Stereotyped Masculinity, and Stereotyped Femininity-Androgynous on both measures of psychological well-being for both countries, but not for comparisons between the Stereotyped Masculinity-Androgynous and Undifferentiated-Stereotyped Femininity categories. Independent dimensions of masculinity and femininity - the GM and GF scales - were, therefore, found to distinguish between two of the four sex-type categories on measur...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored experiential influences by correlating a person's standing height with his/her ideal vertical location of the internal features in computerized faces and found that tall raters created faces with larger ratios of forehead height to chin height, resulting in a larger forehead and a smaller chin.
Abstract: While there has been much emphasis on the objective properties of beautiful faces, some theories of physical attractiveness implicate norm-based coding of faces and experience-dependent preferences (e.g., Langlois & Roggman, 1990; Rhodes, Jeffery, Watson, Clifford, & Nakayama, 2003). This study further explored experiential influences by correlating a persons standing height with his/her ideal vertical location of the internal features in computerized faces. Taller raters created faces with larger ratios of forehead height to chin height–resulting in a larger forehead and a smaller chin, presumably caused by their biased exposure to faces from above eye level. Faces produced by shorter raters had a smaller forehead and a larger chin. The moderate correlation was maintained after controlling for age and gender (i.e., semipartial r = .41; N = 39), and rater height alone explained 24% of the variance in preferred location of the internal facial features. These results point to individual differences in perc...
TL;DR: In a study of 802 16-year-old pupils, Francis as mentioned in this paper found that males scored significantly higher than females on the school short-form of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory.
Abstract: In a study of 802 16-year-old pupils, Francis (1998) found that males scored significantly higher than females on the school short-form of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. He concluded that this instrument may be biased in favor of males. The original data employed by Francis have now been re-examined for the incidence of differential item functioning (DIF) by the Mantel-Haenszel, logistic regression, and SIBTEST statistical procedures. The present study has confirmed that 11 items exhibit DIF, on six of which females outperform males and on five of which males outperform females, but no statistically significant collective DIF was found for the set of the 11 items that exhibited DIF. It has been concluded, therefore, that the differences in levels of self-esteem reported by Francis (1998) are the result of genuine gender differences in self-esteem and not to any artifact of test construction. Individual exam- ination of the items that show DIF supports the widely held view that, in general, among males self-esteem tends to be generated personally, whereas among females self-esteem is more dependent on interactions with others.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors attempted to elicit anger using pictures and a person by image-content interactional strategy, and found that individual differences in animal concern were more strongly linked to anger than other negative emotions while viewing pictures of animal harm.
Abstract: In emotion research, affective pictures are limited in their ability to elicit discrete emotions. The current study attempted to elicit anger using pictures and a person by image-content interactional strategy. In two studies, undergraduates who varied with respect to concern for animal welfare (person factor) were shown pictures that included several of actual or impending animal harm (image content). Results from Study 1 showed that (1) the link between animal concern and combined emotion outcomes was strongest for animal harm pictures compared to other picture categories and (2) individual differences in animal concern were more strongly linked to anger than other negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, disgust, sadness) while viewing pictures of animal harm. Results from Study 2 showed that animal concern predicted variance in self-reported anger above and beyond that explained by broader constructs (empathy and nurturance) to which it relates. Overall, data suggest that the person by image-content interact...
TL;DR: In this paper, the possible existence of a broad factor of masculine versus feminine (M-F) occupational interests was tested and strong negative correlations between overall "masculine" and "feminine" interests were shown to be a statistical artifact, and analyses of new data on the Campbell Interest and Skills Survey indicated that, when gender differences were controlled, gender-related scales showed only very modest loadings on a potential M-F interests factor; in addition, several scales were mutually uncorrelated.
Abstract: . The possible existence of a broad factor of masculine versus feminine (M-F) occupational interests was tested. Data from Lippa (2005) were reanalyzed using common factor analysis and omitting redundant composite variables. The first unrotated factor, as obtained in male-only and female-only samples, was very small and showed weak loadings for most interest scales. Moreover, strong negative correlations between overall “masculine” and “feminine” interests were shown to be a statistical artifact. Second, analyses of new data on the Campbell Interest and Skills Survey indicated that, when gender differences were controlled, gender-related scales showed only very modest loadings on a potential M-F interests factor; in addition, several scales were mutually uncorrelated, a result that was not attributable to the influence of any second factor. Results undermine the hypothesis of a broad factor of M-F occupational interests.