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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

LESSON 15

THE MEASUREMENT OF PERSONALITY

It should be pointed out that the various methods of assessing personality correspond closely to the basic

personality theories we have just discussed. For example, Projective tests such as the Rorschach test are closely

linked to the psychoanalytic theory of personality. Conversely, the various paper-and pencil inventories are

linked to traits theory.

The methods outlined here are not perfect; nor do psychologists agree on the meaning of the results of any

particular test.

There are three basic classes of measurement techniques. They are:

Rating scales

Unstructured projective tests

Questionnaires

Rating Scales

Characteristically, rating scales involve the use of a judge or judges who are asked to observe an individual in

some situation. The judge employs the use of a checklist or scale that has been predesigned for maximum

objectivity. Usually, if the checklist is used properly and the judges are well trained, the results can be fairly

reliable and objective.

Typically, two types of situations are involved in personality assessment using rating scales. And these are,

The interview

The observation of performance

In the interview, the judge asks the subject numerous open-ended and specific questions designed to ascertain

personality traits and general impressions. Generally, several interviews are necessary to gain impressions about

underlying motives (the core of personality). If the interview is conducted properly, carefully, and systematically,

the results can be reliable and valid. However, much depends upon the skill and sensitivity of the person

conducting the interview.

On the other hand the observation of a subject during some type of performance situation is the second kind of

rating system used for ascertaining personality. As with the interview, observations can be effective if the

checklist being used is well designed and planned, and if the observer is highly trained.

Projective Procedures

Projective procedures may also be used to identify traits, but they are commonly used to determine information

about underlying motives. Projective techniques allow subjects to reveal their inner feelings and motives

through unstructured tasks. Theses techniques are used primarily in clinical psychology and are somewhat

synonymous with the psychoanalytic and humanistic approaches to explaining personality. The underlying

assumption is that if subjects perceive that there are no right or wrong responses, they will likely be open and

honest in their responses.

Several kinds of tests have been developed; amongst them are Rorschach test, the Thematic Apperception

Test, the Sentence Completion Test, and the House-Tree-Person Test.

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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

The Rorschach Test

Herman Rorschach, a Swiss psychiatrist, was the first to apply the inkblot to the study of personality.

The Rorschach test was introduced in 1921, and remains the most famous of all the projective testing

devices. The test material consists of ten cards. Each card has inkblot on it, which is symmetrical and

intricate. Some of the cards are entirely in black and white, while others have a splash of color or are

nearly all in color. The cards are presented to the subject one at a time and in a prescribed order. As the

cards are presented, the subject is encouraged to tell what he sees.

Though the Rorschach test has not been used extensively by sport psychologists to evaluate personality

in athletes but there is no doubt that the responses the clients give to the Rorschach test contain a

wealth of personal information. The question is whether the psychologist can accurately interpret the

response. Research (Weiner, 1994) suggests that when the Rorschach is used as an objectively scored

test, as recommended by Exner (1986), it is a reliable and psychometrically sound test.

The Thematic Apperception Test

The Thematic Apperception Test, developed by Henry Murray and his associates in 1943 at the

Harvard University Psychological Clinic, has been used almost as extensively as the Rorschach test. The

TAT is composed of nineteen cards containing pictures depicting vague situations, and one black card.

The subject is encouraged to make up a story about each picture. In contrast to the vague blots in the

Rorschach test, pictures in the TAT are rather clear and vivid. For example, the sex of the characters in

the picture and their facial expressions are generally identifiable. It is believed that subjects reveal or

project important aspects of their personalities as they weave the characters and objects in the picture

into either an oral or a written story.

Like the first test that is the Rorschach test the TAT has not been used extensively by the sport

psychologists to measure athlete's personality. But its validity and reliability are highly dependent upon

the skills and training of the individual administrating and interpreting the results.

Structured Questionnaire

The structured questionnaire is a paper-and--pencil test in which the subject answers specific true-

false statements. There are many different kinds of questionnaire type personality inventories. For our

purposes we will focus our discussion on the two most commonly used personality inventories.

One of these inventories was developed to be used with individuals suffering from personality

disorders, while the other was developed for normal populations.

1. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most widely used of all personality

inventories. It basically consists of a series of true/false questions designed to measure personality traits

and clinical conditions of the athletes.

The original version of the MMPI, composed of 550 items, was developed in the 1940s and is still in

use (Hathaway & McKinley, 1940). A revised version of the inventory, composed of 567 items, was

developed in 1990 and named the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Graham, Williams, & Ben-Sporath, 1990). These

authors also developed a new form of the inventory to be used with adolescents (MMPI-A). The traits

measured by the MMPI-2 include the following hypochondria, depression, hysteria, psychopathic

deviation, masculinity-feminity, paranoia, obsessive-compulsive behavior, schizophrenia,

hypomania, and social intraversion. The inventory also includes items to detect lying and faking

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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

good/bad scores. While the MMPI-2 was designed specifically for use with clinical populations, it may be used

with normal individuals (Hathaway & McKinley, 1967)

Cattell's Sixteen Factor Personality Inventory

Developed by Robert Cattell (1965), the Sixteen Factor Personality Inventory (Cattell 16 PF) is based upon

thirty-five personality traits originally identified by Cattell. Through a statistical process known as factor

analysis, Cattell reduced the thirty-five specific traits to sixteen broader traits or factors.

The current edition of the 16PF is titled the 16PF Fifth Edition (Russell & Karol, 1994), and is composed of

185 items. The 16PF takes from thirty-five to fifty minutes to complete and is designed for adults, or those aged

sixteen years and over. The 16PF measures 16 primary personality factors; it also included a social desirability

index to assess faking good or bad.

16Pf Primary Traits

Warmth

Reasoning

Emotional Stability

Dominance

Liveliness

Rule-Consciousness

Social Boldness

Sensitivity

Vigilance

10.

Abstractedness

11.

Privateness

12.

Apprehension

13.

Openness to Change

14.

Self-Reliance

15.

Perfectionism

16.

Tension

Cattell believed that the sixteen traits measured by the 16PF could be further condensed down to five secondary

or global personality traits which are,

Extraversion

Anxiety

Tough-Mindedness

Independence

Self-Control

Plotted standardized scores produce what sport psychologists call a personality profile. A standardized score is

a score that has been converted from a raw score so that it indicates whether an individual is high or low in a

characteristic relative to other individuals of the same gender, age, and academic background.

When the sport psychologist uses the 16 PF, materials and instructions are provided that show her how to

convert raw personality scores into standardized scores and then plot them in a personality profile. In this way

each athlete's personality profile can be produced.

In terms of reliability and validity, the Cattell 16PH is a good test to be used for measuring the personality of

athletes. Its copyrighted inventory, so it can only be used with the permission of the Institute for Personality

and Ability Testing (IPAT).

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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

References

Cox, H. Richard. (2002). Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications. (Fifth Edition). New York:

McGraw-Hill Companies

Lavallec. D., Kremer, J., Moran, A., & Williams. M. (2004) Sports Psychology: Contemporary Themes.

New York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers