PSYC 102 Chapter Notes -Factor Analysis, Trait Theory, Extraversion And Introversion
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COMM 292: Organizational Behaviour
Lecture #9
Discovering Traits:
Factor analysis - statistical technique identifies which characteristics are related to each
other and together might identify a trait
Sample: I am dependable, I am a people person, I am honest, people say I am reliable, I
like parties, people describe me as outgoing
Two factors:
o Dependable, honest, reliable: 1, 3, 4
o People person, I like parties, outgoing: 2, 5, 6
Factor Analysis in Practice:
Hundreds of items/questions
Representing numerous possible traits
Administered to very large samples
Factors of correlated items interpreted to represent particular traits
Hans and Sybil Eysenck's Personality Dimensions:
Extraversion-introversion
Emotional stability-instability
The Big Five Factors:
Most popular trait theory of personality
Lots of research support
Our best guess at the fundamental traits of personality
Conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, extraversion (CANOE)
How stable are these traits?
o Quite stable in adulthood; however, they change over development
How heritable are they?
o Fifty percent or so for each trait
How about other cultures?
o These traits are common across cultures
Can they predict other personal attributes?
o Yes. Conscientious people are morning type and extraverted are evening type
Big Five Measures:
1. Big five inventory (questionnaire)
2. NEO-PI (questionnaire)
3. SIFFM (interview)
Person-Situation Controversy:
Walter Mischel
Do traits or situations matter more for predicting behaviour?
Should Mood Effect Personality?
o They probably should not