Identification problems in personality psychology

L. Borghans; B.H.H. Golsteyn; J. Heckman; J.E. Humphries

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029

Identification problems in personality psychology

L. Borghans, B.H.H. Golsteyn, J. Heckman^*, J.E. Humphries

^*Corresponding author for this work

Macro, International & Labour Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This paper discusses and illustrates identification problems in personality psychology. The measures used by psychologists to infer traits are based on behaviors, broadly defined. These behaviors are produced from multiple traits interacting with incentives in situations. In general, measures are determined by these multiple traits and do not identify any particular trait unless incentives and other traits are controlled for. Using two data sets, we show, that substantial portions of the variance in achievement test scores and grades, which are often used as measures of cognition, are explained by personality variables. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	315-320
Number of pages	6
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	51
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029
Publication status	Published - Aug 2011

Keywords

Identification problem
Personality
Psychology
Achievement test
Grades
NONCOGNITIVE SKILL FORMATION
TEST-SCORES
TEST ANXIETY
PERFORMANCE
TECHNOLOGY
ABILITY
SELF
IQ

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10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029

1 Working paper

Identification problems in personality psychology
Borghans, L., Golsteyn, B. H. H., Heckman, J. & Humphries, J. E., 1 Jan 2011, Maastricht: METEOR, Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, (METEOR Research Memorandum; No. 025).
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title = "Identification problems in personality psychology",

abstract = "This paper discusses and illustrates identification problems in personality psychology. The measures used by psychologists to infer traits are based on behaviors, broadly defined. These behaviors are produced from multiple traits interacting with incentives in situations. In general, measures are determined by these multiple traits and do not identify any particular trait unless incentives and other traits are controlled for. Using two data sets, we show, that substantial portions of the variance in achievement test scores and grades, which are often used as measures of cognition, are explained by personality variables. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Identification problem, Personality, Psychology, Achievement test, Grades, NONCOGNITIVE SKILL FORMATION, TEST-SCORES, TEST ANXIETY, PERFORMANCE, TECHNOLOGY, ABILITY, SELF, IQ",

author = "L. Borghans and B.H.H. Golsteyn and J. Heckman and J.E. Humphries",

year = "2011",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

pages = "315--320",

journal = "Personality and Individual Differences",

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AU - Borghans, L.

AU - Golsteyn, B.H.H.

AU - Heckman, J.

AU - Humphries, J.E.

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AB - This paper discusses and illustrates identification problems in personality psychology. The measures used by psychologists to infer traits are based on behaviors, broadly defined. These behaviors are produced from multiple traits interacting with incentives in situations. In general, measures are determined by these multiple traits and do not identify any particular trait unless incentives and other traits are controlled for. Using two data sets, we show, that substantial portions of the variance in achievement test scores and grades, which are often used as measures of cognition, are explained by personality variables. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - Identification problem

KW - Personality

KW - Psychology

KW - Achievement test

KW - Grades

KW - NONCOGNITIVE SKILL FORMATION

KW - TEST-SCORES

KW - TEST ANXIETY

KW - PERFORMANCE

KW - TECHNOLOGY

KW - ABILITY

KW - SELF

KW - IQ

U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029

DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.029

M3 - Article

SN - 0191-8869

VL - 51

SP - 315

EP - 320

JO - Personality and Individual Differences

JF - Personality and Individual Differences

IS - 3

ER -

Identification problems in personality psychology

Abstract

Keywords

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Identification problems in personality psychology

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