Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Paper Series,
Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research
No 5/2011: Identification Problems in Personality Psychology
Lex Borghans (), Bart H. H. Golsteyn (), James Heckman and John Eric Humphries ()
Additional contact information
Lex Borghans: Maastricht University
Bart H. H. Golsteyn: Maastricht University
James Heckman: University of Chicago
John Eric Humphries: University of Chicago
Abstract: This paper discusses and illustrates identification problems in personality psychology. The measures used by psychologists to infer traits are based on behaviors, broadly defined. These behaviors are produced from multiple traits interacting with incentives in situations. In general, measures are determined by these multiple traits and do not identify any particular trait unless incentives and other traits are controlled for. Using two data sets, we show, as an example, that substantial portions of the variance in achievement test scores and grades, which are often used as measures of cognition, are explained by personality variables.
Keywords: identification problem; personality; psychology; achievement test; grades
21 pages, March 25, 2011
Full text files
WP11no5.pdf
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