Comparability of self- and other-rated personality structure

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Establishing construct validity relies on multiple assessment methods, including self- and informant reports.
• While convergent and discriminant validity of personality ratings are frequently studied, the structural consistency across different report types is less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural comparability of personality traits across different versions of the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP).
• To test hypotheses regarding the influence of rater perspective (self vs. other) and measure format (long vs. short) on personality structure comparability.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analytic approach was used, analyzing data from various versions of the SNAP.
• The study examined the three-factor structure of personality (Negative Emotionality, Positive Emotionality, and Disinhibition vs. Constraint) across different formats and perspectives.

Main Results:

• A strong congruence was found in the three-factor personality structures across all SNAP versions.
• Rater perspective and measure format demonstrated minimal influence on the structural comparability of personality traits.

Conclusions:

• The personality structure assessed by the SNAP is robust and consistent across different rater perspectives and rating formats.
• Findings support Funder's realistic accuracy model, highlighting the importance of trait relevance, cue detection, and information usage in informant ratings.