What is the main design principle underlying self-rating questionnaires that measure personality traits?
A) Trait terms mean the same thing to all respondents, so a minimum number of adjective descriptors can be used for reliable assessment.
B) People who respond in a certain way to one trait adjective should respond in similar ways to other, related trait adjectives.
C) People should recognize that any given trait adjective represents a more fundamental personality dimension, so they aren't really rating the adjective but instead thinking more deeply about themselves.
D) Each respondent should show a unique pattern of self-ratings when considering a collection of trait adjectives.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main design principle underlying self-rating questionnaires that measure personality traits is that people who respond in a certain way to one trait adjective should respond in similar ways to other, related trait adjectives. This is known as the principle of differential and convergent validity. By using a set of trait adjectives that are related to a particular personality dimension, researchers can test whether the responses to these adjectives converge on a single underlying personality trait. This is important for ensuring that the questionnaire is not measuring multiple, unrelated dimensions of personality.

What Is the Main Design Principle Underlying Self-Rating Questionnaires That