The Use of Intensive Longitudinal Methods in Explanatory Personality Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haran Sened ◽  
Gal Lazarus ◽  
Marci E.J. Gleason ◽  
Eshkol Rafaeli ◽  
William Fleeson

Intensive longitudinal methods (ILMs), in which data are gathered from participants multiple times with short intervals (typically 24 hours or less apart), have gained considerable ground in personality research and may be useful in exploring causality in both classic personality trait models and more novel contextualized personality state models. We briefly review the various terms and uses of ILMs in various fields of psychology and present five main strategies that can help researchers infer causality in ILM studies. We discuss the use of temporal precedence to establish causality, through both lagged analyses and natural experiments; the use of external measures and peer reports to go beyond self–report data; delving deeper into repeated measures to derive new indices; the use of contextual factors occurring during the measurement period; and combining experimental methods and ILMs. These strategies are illustrated by examples from existing research and by new empirical findings from two dyadic daily diary studies ( N = 80 and N = 108 couples) and an experience sampling method study of personality states ( N = 52). We conclude by offering a short checklist for designing ILM studies with causality in mind and look at the applicability of these strategies in the intersection of personality psychology and other psychological research domains. Copyright © 2018 European Association of Personality Psychology

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1017-1036
Author(s):  
Gal Lazarus ◽  
Haran Sened ◽  
Eshkol Rafaeli

Recent developments in personality research highlight the value of modelling dynamic state–like manifestations of personality. The present work integrates these developments with prominent clinical models addressing within–person multiplicity and promotes the exploration of models centred on state–like manifestations of personality that function as cohesive organizational units. Such units possess distinct subjective qualities and are characterized by specific affects, behaviours, cognitions, and desires that tend to be co–activated. As background, we review both theory and research from the fields of social cognition, psychotherapy, and psychopathology that serve as the foundation for such models. We then illustrate our ideas in greater detail with one well–supported clinical model—the schema therapy mode model, chosen because it provides a finite and definite set of modes (i.e. cohesive personality states). We assessed these modes using a newly developed experience–sampling measure administered to 52 individuals (four times daily for 15 days). We estimated intraindividual and group–level temporal and contemporaneous networks based on the within–person variance as well as between–person network. We discuss findings from exemplar participants and from group–level networks and address cross–model particularities and consistencies. In conclusion, we consider potential idiographic and nomothetic applications of subjective states dynamic personality research based on intensive longitudinal methods. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Orben ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski

The notion that digital-screen engagement decreases adolescent well-being has become a recurring feature in public, political, and scientific conversation. The current level of psychological evidence, however, is far removed from the certainty voiced by many commentators. There is little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent well-being, and most psychological results are based on single-country, exploratory studies that rely on inaccurate but popular self-report measures of digital-screen engagement. In this study, which encompassed three nationally representative large-scale data sets from Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom ( N = 17,247 after data exclusions) and included time-use-diary measures of digital-screen engagement, we used both exploratory and confirmatory study designs to introduce methodological and analytical improvements to a growing psychological research area. We found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement—measured throughout the day or particularly before bedtime—and adolescent well-being.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-306
Author(s):  
Allison M. Sweeney ◽  
Antonio L. Freitas

This research used intensive longitudinal methods to examine a motivated cognition perspective on intention–behavior discrepancies. We propose that under conditions of high performance, people are more inclined to evaluate their efforts in light of their intentions; thus, discrepancies between intentions and performance should have stronger impacts on goal-related affect under conditions of high (vs. low) performance. Secondary data analyses were conducted on two daily-diary studies in which participants reported their exercise, goal-related affect, and next-day intentions across 14 days. Under conditions of low performance, people felt negative about their performance irrespective of whether they typically set low versus high intentions. On days with high performance, average intentions significantly related to affect, such that those with low average intentions experienced the greatest satisfaction. Additionally, we observed that average (between-person) affect, but not within-person fluctuations in affect, predicted daily levels of exercise behavior. Implications for self-regulatory theories of affect are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Affect and Relationships Lab

Recent developments in personality research highlight the value of modeling dynamic state-like manifestations of personality. The present work integrates these developments with prominent clinical models addressing within-person multiplicity and promotes the exploration of models centered on state-like manifestations of personality that function as cohesive organizational units. Such units possess distinct subjective qualities, and are characterized by specific affects, behaviors, cognitions, and desires that tend to be co-activated. As background, we review both theory and research from the fields of social cognition, psychotherapy, and psychopathology that serve as the foundation for such models. We then illustrate our ideas in greater detail with one well-supported clinical model – the schema therapy mode model, chosen because it provides a finite and definite set of modes (i.e., cohesive personality states). We assessed these modes using a newly-developed experience-sampling measure administered to fifty-two individuals (four times daily for fifteen days). We estimated intraindividual and group-level temporal and contemporaneous networks based on the within-person variance as well a between-person network. We discuss findings from exemplar participants and from group-level networks, and address cross-model particularities and consistencies. In concluding, we consider potential idiographic and nomothetic applications of subjective states dynamic personality research based on intensive longitudinal methods.


1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hubert J. M. Hermans ◽  
Han Bonarius

In this paper, arguments are presented for considering the subject as co‐investigator in personality research. A review of current research methods suggests that personality psychology is well on its way to recognizing the individual as an expert on his or her own self and situation. This means that the subject should also be allowed to take a much more active role in psychological research. It is argued that the ideal methodology for accomplishing this integration of the individual into psychological research is to establish a dialogue between psychologist and subject, allowing each to contribute to the scientific process from his or her own perspective and on the basis of his or her own expertise. The present approach calls for greater emphasis on the organization and coherence of personality as a system, greater openness and sensitivity to the particular world of the individual, and an even more dynamic conception of individuality than is currently found in our field. An important implication of the open system approach advocated in this article, the reduced role of prediction in personality research, is discussed and, finally, a preliminary list of expected gains and losses is presented.


2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-134
Author(s):  
Urte Scholz ◽  
Rainer Hornung

Abstract. The main research areas of the Social and Health Psychology group at the Department of Psychology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, are introduced. Exemplarily, three currently ongoing projects are described. The project ”Dyadic exchange processes in couples facing dementia” examines social exchanges in couples with the husband suffering from dementia and is based on Equity Theory. This project applies a multi-method approach by combining self-report with observational data. The ”Swiss Tobacco Monitoring System” (TMS) is a representative survey on smoking behaviour in Switzerland. Besides its survey character, the Swiss TMS also allows for testing psychological research questions on smoking with a representative sample. The project, ”Theory-based planning interventions for changing nutrition behaviour in overweight individuals”, elaborates on the concept of planning. More specifically, it is tested whether there is a critical amount of repetitions of a planning intervention (e.g., three or nine times) in order to ensure long-term effects.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Eduardo Martinez ◽  
Friederike Funk ◽  
Alexander Todorov

A fundamental psychological problem is identifying the idiosyncratic and shared contributions to stimulus evaluation. However, there is no established method for estimating these contributions and the existing methods have led to divergent estimates. Moreover, in many studies participants rate the stimuli only once, although at least two measurements are required to estimate idiosyncratic contributions. Here, participants rated faces or novel objects on four dimensions (beautiful, approachable, likeable, dangerous) for a total of ten blocks to better estimate the preferences of individual raters. First, we show that both intra-rater and inter-rater agreement – measures related to idiosyncratic and shared contributions, respectively – increase with repeated measures. Second, to find best practices, we compared estimates from correlation indices and variance component approaches on stimulus-generality, evaluation-generality, data preprocessing steps, and sensitivity to measurement error (a largely ignored issue). The correlation indices changed monotonically and nonlinearly with more repeated measures. Variance component analyses showed large variability in estimates from only two repeated measures, but stabilized with more measures. While there was general agreement among approaches, the correlation approach was problematic for certain stimulus types and evaluation dimensions. Our results suggest that variance component estimates are more reliable as long as one collects more than two repeated measures, which is not the current norm in psychological research, and can be implemented using mixed models with crossed random effects. Recommendations for analysis and interpretations are provided.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e039981
Author(s):  
Maleea Denise Holbert ◽  
Roy M Kimble ◽  
Mark Chatfield ◽  
Bronwyn R Griffin

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of two acute burn dressings, Burnaid hydrogel dressing and plasticised polyvinylchloride film, on reducing acute pain scores in paediatric burn patients following appropriate first aid.DesignSingle-centre, superiority, two-arm, parallel-group, prospective randomised controlled trial.Participants and settingPaediatric patients (aged ≤16) presenting to the Emergency Department at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, with an acute thermal burn were approached for participation in the trial from September 2017–September 2018.InterventionsPatients were randomised to receive either (1) Burnaid hydrogel dressing (intervention) or (2) plasticised polyvinylchloride film (Control) as an acute burn dressing.Primary and secondary outcomesObservational pain scores from nursing staff assessed 5 min post application of the randomised dressing, measured using the Face Legs Activity Cry and Consolability Scale was the primary outcome. Repeated measures of pain, stress and re-epithelialisation were also collected at follow-up dressing changes until 95% wound re-epithelialisation occurred.ResultsSeventy-two children were recruited and randomised (n=37 intervention; n=35 control). No significant between-group differences in nursing (mean difference: −0.1, 95% CI −0.7 to 0.5, p=0.72) or caregiver (MD: 1, 95% CI −8 to 11, p=0.78) observational pain scores were identified. Moreover, no significant differences in child self-report pain (MD: 0.3, 95% CI −1.7 to 2.2, p=0.78), heart rate (MD: −3, 95% CI −11 to 5, p=0.41), temperature (MD: 0.6, 95% CI −0.13 to 0.24, p=0.53), stress (geometric mean ratio: 1.53, 95% CI 0.93 to 2.53, p=0.10), or re-epithelialisation rates (MD: −1, 95% CI −3 to 1, p=0.26) were identified between the two groups.ConclusionsA clear benefit of Burnaid hydrogel dressing as an analgesic adjunct to first aid for the treatment of acute paediatric burns was not identified in this investigation.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617001274369).


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 808-825
Author(s):  
Gabriela Gniewosz ◽  
Tuulia M. Ortner ◽  
Thomas Scherndl

Performance on achievement tests is characterized by an interplay of different individual attributes such as personality traits, motivation or cognitive styles. However, the prediction of individuals’ performance from classical self–report personality measures obtained during large and comprehensive aptitude assessments is biased by, for example, subjective response tendencies. This study goes beyond by using behavioural data based on two different types of tasks, requiring different conscientious–related response behaviours. Moreover, a typological approach is proposed, which includes different behavioural indicators to obtain information on complex personality characteristics. © 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology


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