A Correlated Traits, Correlated Methods Model for Thin-Slice Child Personality Assessment

Jennifer L. Tackett*, Jonas W.B. Lang, Kristian E. Markon, Kathrin Herzhoff

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent research has illustrated the utility and accuracy of a thin-slice (TS) approach to child personality assessment, whereby unacquainted observers provide personality ratings of children after exposure to brief behavioral episodes. The current study sought to expand on this approach by exploring formal multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) models for child TS data comprising ratings from a comprehensive set of TS situations. Results using data from a sample of 326 community children 9-10 years of age indicated that a correlated traits, correlated methods (CTCM) model can be used to represent individual differences in children's behavior as manifest across different situations. Indicator variables derived from a CTCM differentially correlated with traditional parental ratings of behavior, moreover, and provide predictive and incremental validity regarding child competencies and behavior. Results illustrate the utility of a TS approach in the assessment of childhood personality and inform understanding of issues encountered in applying different MTMM models to these types of empirical data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)545-556
Number of pages12
JournalPsychological assessment
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Child personality
  • Multiple informants
  • Multitrait-multimethod matrix
  • Thin slice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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