Abstract
Many researchers studying individual differences conduct studies in which they ask a large number of individuals to complete a questionnaire designed to measure a specific trait. The researchers then examine whether the individuals receiving a high score on the trait measure will perform differently on a behavioral measure, or other questionnaire, than individuals receiving a low score on the trait. An implicit assumption of this methodology is that the trait dimension being measured applies equally well to all individuals. In other words, a particular individual participating in the study may receive a high score on the trait (or may receive a medium score or a low score), but every individual’s score is equally meaningful as a representation of that individual’s personality.
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© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
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Tice, D.M. (1989). Metatraits: Interitem Variance as Personality Assessment. In: Buss, D.M., Cantor, N. (eds) Personality Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0634-4_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0634-4_14
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