Work in our laboratory is driven by two central premises.
First, significant advances in the science of personality psychology are likely
to depend on prior advances in our understanding of measurement and
data modeling. Second, to be relevant, the scientific
concepts employed by personality psychologists must enlighten our
understanding of the individual person. In other words, the science of personality psychology
must not be limited to forms of data analysis based on aggregates computed
from observations collected across numerous people.
As a result of these two premises, research in our
laboratory is quantitative and person-centered in nature. On
the quantitative front we have been employing a little-known type of
confirmatory principal components analysis (Multiple Group Components
Analysis) as well as Generalized Procrustes analysis to compare and merge
"idiographic" and "nomothetic" ratings of self and others. With
regard to person-centered methods, we have primarily been using variations of
George Kelly's repertory grid technique to assess how individuals view
themselves and others. Our most recent thinking and work is challenging
the fundamental assumptions underlying all of our previous research,
drawing it and most of modern psychological research into serious
question. Under the methods link above you will find commentary on our
past and present work.
Material on these web pages last updated:
29-June-2011.
These web pages were designed by
James Barraclough before he graduated from the Department of Psychology at OSU.