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Assessing change in a personality profile
Jonathan S Gore1, Susan E Cross, Daniel W Russell
1Eastern Kentucky University, USA. jonathan.gore@eku.edu
The American Journal of Psychology
|March 20, 2013
Summary
This study evaluated six methods for assessing personality profile changes in college students. The bivariate and intraclass coefficients demonstrated consistent validity for measuring personality shifts over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Science
Background:
- Assessing personality change is crucial for understanding individual development.
- Existing methods for measuring personality profile changes vary in validity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of six distinct methods for assessing changes in personality profiles.
- To determine which methods are most reliable for tracking personality shifts over time.
Main Methods:
- 372 college students completed personality measures within their first two months of college.
- 300 students completed a second set of measures eight weeks later.
- 60 students completed a third assessment during their second semester.
Main Results:
- The bivariate and intraclass change coefficients exhibited consistent convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity.
- These two methods proved reliable across different time points during the academic year.
Conclusions:
- The bivariate and intraclass coefficients are recommended for assessing personality profile changes.
- Understanding the limitations and appropriate use of these coefficients is essential for researchers.
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