Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Personality, Fearlessness, Factor Analysis'

Arguments have been made for dimensional models over categorical for the classification of personality disorder, and for the five-factor model (FFM) in particular. A criticism of the FFM of personality disorder is the absence of measures designed to assess pathological personality. Several measures have been developed based on the FFM to assess the maladaptive personality traits included within existing personality disorders. One such example is the Five-Factor Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FFOCI). The current study applied item response theory analyses (IRT) to test whether scales of the FFOCI are extreme variants of respective FFM facet scales. It was predicted that both the height and slope of the item-response curves would differ for the conscientiousness-based scales, due to the bias towards assessing high conscientiousness as adaptive in general personality inventories (such as Goldberg’s International Personality Item Pool; IPIP). Alternatively, the remaining FFOCI scales and their IPIP counterparts were predicted to demonstrate no significant differences in IRCs across theta. Nine hundred and seventy-two adults each completed the FFOCI and the IPIP, including 377 undergraduate students and 595 participants recruited online. A portion of the results supported the hypotheses, with select exceptions. Fastidiousness and Workaholism demonstrated the expected trends, with the FFOCI providing higher levels of fidelity at the higher end of theta, and the IPIP demonstrating superior coverage at the lower end of theta. Other conscientiousness scales failed to demonstrate the expected differences at a statistically significant level. In this context, the suitability of IRT in the analysis of rationally-derived, polytomous scales is explored.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factor structure of items pertaining to health on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI2) for chronic back pain patients in comparison to a control group. The results may be used as groundwork for developing an MMPI2 subscale to describe this population. The groups differed in the sequence of the resulting factors and the percentage of variance accounted for by each factor. The factors extracted when evaluating the control group were titled in order: Poor Physical Health, Digestive Difficulties, Equilibrium, Depression/Malaise, and Multiple Somatic Complaints. Resulting factors for the pain group were: Depression/Malaise, Digestive Difficulties, Multiple Somatic Complaints, Headaches/Dizziness, and Neurological Reaction/Poor Physical Health.

The primary purpose of this study was to confirm the four-factor structure of the 30-item Adlerian Personality Priority Assessment (APPA) using a split-sample cross-validation confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The APPA is an assessment, grounded in Adlerian theory, used to conceptualize clients based on the four personality priorities most commonly used in the Adlerian literature: superiority, pleasing, control, and comfort. The secondary purpose of this study was to provide evidence for discriminant validity, examine predictive qualities of demographics, and explore the prevalence of the four priorities across demographics. For the cross validation CFA, I randomly divided the sample, 1210 undergraduates, at a large public research university (53% Caucasian, 13.1% Hispanic/Latino(a), 21.4% African American, 5.4% American Indian, and 5.8% biracial; mean age =19.8; 58.9% females), into two equal subsamples. I used Subsample 1 (n = 605) to conduct the initial CFA. I held out Subsample 2 (n = 605) to test any possible model changes resulting from Subsample 1 results and to provide further confirmation of the APPA's construct validity. Findings from the split-sample cross-validation CFA confirmed the four-factor structure of the APPA and provided support for the factorial/structure validity of the APPA's scores. Results also present initial evidence of discriminant validity and support the applicability of the instrument across demographics. Overall, these findings suggest Adlerian counselors can confidently use the APPA as a tool to conceptualize clients.

Abstract This interdisciplinary study describes in the first part the frequency with which various statistical research designs and methods are reported in psychiatric journals, and investigates how the use of these methods affect the visibility of the article in the form of received citations. In the second part focus is specifically on factor analysis, and the study presents two applications of this method. Original research articles (N = 448) from four general psychiatric journals in 1996 were reviewed. The journals were the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Archives of General Psychiatry, the British Journal of Psychiatry and the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. There were differences in the utilisation of statistical procedures among the journals. The use of statistical methods was not strongly associated with the further utilisation of an article. However, extended description of statistical procedures had a positive effect on the received citations. Factor analysis is a statistical method based on correlations of the variables, which is often used when validity and structure of psychiatric instruments are studied. Exploratory factor analysis is designed to explore underlying latent factors, and in confirmatory factor analysis the aim is to verify the factor structure based on earlier findings in other data sets. Using data from the 31-year follow-up of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study this study aimed to demonstrate the validity and factor structure of scales measuring temperament (Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, TPQ, and Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI) and alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20). The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated good performance of the TCI and TPQ, though the results suggested that some developmental work is still needed. Of the two scales, the TCI worked psychometrically better than the TPQ. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factor model of TAS-20 was in agreement with the Finnish version of the scale. To conclude, future authors of psychiatric journals might apply these results in designing their research to present intelligible and compact analysis combined with a high quality presentation technique. Results of the factor analyses showed that the TPQ, TCI and TAS-20 can be used also in their Finnish versions
Tiivistelmä Tämä poikkitieteellinen tutkimus kuvaa erilaisten tilastotieteellisten menetelmien yleisyyttä ja merkitystä psykiatriassa. Tutkimuksen ensimmäisessä osassa tutkitaan erilaisten tilastomenetelmien ja tutkimusasetelmien osuutta psykiatrisissa artikkeleissa ja lisäksi käytettyjen menetelmien vaikutusta artikkelien saamien viittausten lukumäärään. Tutkimuksen toisessa osassa keskitytään faktorianalyysiin ja esitetään kaksi siihen liittyvää sovellusta. Aineiston muodostavat alkuperäistuloksia esittelevät artikkelit (N = 448) neljästä eri psykiatrian tieteellisestä yleislehdestä vuodelta 1996. Kyseiset lehdet ovat American Journal of Psychiatry, Archives of General Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry ja Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. Lehdet erosivat toisistaan tilastotieteellisten menetelmien käytössä ja tulosten esittämisessä. Tilastotieteellisten menetelmien käytöllä ei ollut suurta vaikutusta artikkelien saamien viittausten lukumäärään, mutta laajalla menetelmien kuvauksella oli positiivinen vaikutus viittausten lukumäärään. Faktorianalyysi on tilastotieteellinen tutkimusmenetelmä, jota käytetään tutkittaessa millaisista osatekijöistä erilaiset monimutkaiset ilmiöt koostuvat. Erityisesti tutkittaessa psykiatristen mittareiden validiteettia ja rakennetta faktorianalyysi on osoittautunut hyödylliseksi. Eksploratiivisessa faktorianalyysissa tarkoituksena on etsiä taustalla olevia piileviä muuttujia ja konfirmatorisessa faktorianalyysissa tarkoitus on vahvistaa aiemmissa tutkimuksissa todettu mittarin faktorirakenne. Tässä tutkimuksessa hyödynnetään aineistoa Pohjois-Suomen vuoden 1966 syntymäkohortin 31 vuoden seurannasta. Aineiston avulla tutkitaan temperamenttia (Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, TPQ, ja Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI) ja aleksitymiaa (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20) tutkivien mittareiden suomenkielisten käännöksien validiteettia ja faktorirakennetta. Eksploratiivisen faktorianalyysin tulokset kertoivat, että TPQ ja TCI toimivat hyvin myös suomenkielellä. Kuitenkin mittareissa on vielä kehittämisen varaa. TCI:n psykometriset ominaisuudet olivat paremmat kuin TPQ:n. Aleksitymiamittarin TAS-20 konfirmatorinen faktorianalyysi osoitti että aiemmin julkaistu kolmen faktorin malli toimi hyvin myös suomalaisella versiolla. Psykiatristen artikkelien kirjoittajat voivat hyödyntää tämän tutkimuksen tuloksia suunnitellessaan psykiatrista tutkimusta suuntaan, jossa selkeä ja tiivis tulosten analysointitapa ja korkealaatuinen tulosten esitystapa korostuu. Faktorianalyysi soveltuu hyvin mittarin validiteetin tutkimiseen. Tutkimus osoitti TPQ-, TCI- ja TAS-20-mittareiden suomenkielisten versioiden validiteetin

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) is an emerging measure used to map pathological personality traits. In this thesis, the reliability and facet structure of the Swedish version of the PID-5 is evaluated. Further, the possible occurrence of higher-order factors of the pathological personality traits is explored. Using a sample of 275 observations, the facet structure and higher-order factors are investigated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that the internal consistency, measured with Cronbach's alpha, is strong for the facets and adequate for the domains from the PID-5. The theorized facet structure could not be confirmed for the Swedish version of the PID-5. Treating the five domains as observed variables, support for a general factor of psychopathology and indications of the two factors internalizing and externalizing are found.

The measurement of psychosocial functioning following traumatic brain injury has received very little attention, despite the fact that it has important applications in a variety of clinical, medico-legal and theoretical contexts. In the absence of well validated, standardised measures of psychosocialf unctioning, clinicians and researchersin this field have tendedt o employ measures which are designed for use in non-brain injury populations. The Katz Adjustment Scale (KAS-R; Katz & Lyerly, 1963) is one measure which has been widely used in brain injury studies despite the fact that it has questionable validity when applied to brain injury populations. In an attempt to resolve this problem, Jackson, Hopewell, Glass, Warburg, Dewey & Ghadiali (1992) conducted an exploratory factor analysis of a modified version of the KAS-R using a mixed sample of individuals who had a traumatic brain injury and\or spinal cord injury. The present study is an attempt to confirm the validity of the factors obtained by Jackson et al and where necessary revise the factor structure of the modified KAS-R. r1be present study represents a significant advance upon the work of Jackson et al in that it employs confirmatory factor analysis techniques and is based upon a new sample consisting solely of brain injured individuals. The results of this study provide support for the validity of the main first-order factors obtained by Jackson et al., and a number of post hoc modifications were made which appear to represent improvements upon the Jackson et al factors in terms of their relevance to brain injury. Preliminary analyses indicate that the modified factors may discriminate between different groups of brain injured individuals. Recommendations are made re further revision and validation of the KAS-R sub-scales and the potential research applications of the scales are discussed.

Background: Brand personality is based on the notion that brands possess personalities similar to that of human personalities. It is a common measure for describing consumers’ brand perceptions, and brands with loyal customers often have distinctive personalities. Since Aaker (1997) introduced the first brand personality scale, researchers have noticed increasing difficulties in comparing results from different studies. Geuens, Weijters & De Wulf’s (2009) proposed a solution to this problem by developing a brand personality scale that is claimed to be universal. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the extent to which the proposed universal brand personality scale (UBPS) can be validated in a Swedish context. Methodology: This descriptive study is of quantitative nature and applied a cross-sectional design. An online questionnaire was sent out to collect data on 12 brands from 193 respondents. These provided 2205 brand impressions that were processed by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Parameters such as content validity, fit indices, composite reliability and construct validity were chosen to determine the overall fitness of the model. Conclusion: The results indicated reasonable support for validation of Geuens, Weijters & De Wulf’s (2009) brand personality scale in a Swedish context.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Antioch University, 2006.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed April 10, 2007). Advisor: Jon F. Wergin . Keywords: leadership, multiple regression, assessment, Big Five Personality Model, Five Factor Personality Model, hospitals. Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-158 ).

Orientation: South Africa’s cultural and linguistic diversity requires special measures to ensure that the assessments used in employment settings are scrupulously fair. To this end, Section 8 of The Employment Equity Act requires that psychometric tests are scientifically proved to be valid and reliable and not to discriminate unfairly against any individual or group. The South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) sets out to meet these criteria by incorporating culture-specific elements and by providing versions in each of South Africa’s 11 official languages. o Research purpose: The key determination of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Afrikaans version of the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI). The aforementioned properties include item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability analysis, product-moment correlation and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). o Motivation for the study: To contribute to the fair, valid and reliable use of the SAPI questionnaire in all language versions of the instrument by examining the psychometric properties of the Afrikaans version and comparing it with the validated English version. Once this has been done for each of the 11 official South African languages versions, a culturally neutral instrument will be available for the full diversity of employment settings in South Africa. o Research design, approach and method: This study used a quantitative cross-sectional research design with an emic approach, objectivist ontology and a post-positivist research paradigm. Primary data was collected by administering the Afrikaans version of the SAPI questionnaire to a non-probability sample of 201 purposively selected white Afrikaans-speaking South Africans who are economically and non-economically active and have a minimum qualification of Grade 12. An online Afrikaans version of the SAPI along with a biographical questionnaire was used to collect data. Item analysis was investigated by means of a descriptive statistical analysis. An initial principle component analysis followed with exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine the instrument’s factor structure. A reliability analysis was conducted in order to measure the internal consistency of the instrument. Product-moment correlations explored the relationships between variables. Further analysis was done to detect the relationships of the variables and to detect differences. Main findings: The White Afrikaners attach immense importance to the social-relational factors. From the six factors, only three factors were extracted, namely the Social-relational Positive, combined Social-relational Negative/Conscientiousness, and Intellect/Openness factors. These factors showed adequate validity and reliability. The item functionality needs to be re-evaluated in order to measure all the six factors of the SAPI and different analytical techniques should be applied. The relationships between the remaining three factors were sufficient, and only age differences were detected in the experience of Social Relational Negative/Conscientiousness o Practical/managerial implications: The results of this study provide a firm foundation for the further investigation of the validity of the Afrikaans version of the questionnaire. Furthermore, insight is given to researchers and practitioners on the need to develop, adapt or translate psychometric instruments, especially for use in an environment which is multicultural and multilingual. o Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to cultural-specific research on the assessment of personality in South Africa. Its thorough investigation and attempt to validate the Afrikaans version of the SAPI is supported by an extensive body of literature relevant to standardizing the SAPI. Practitioners and organisations will now be able to administer a culturally informed personality assessment where the home language of the employees is Afrikaans.
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
Human Resource Management
MCom
Unrestricted

In a multicultural society such as South Africa, there is a need for valid and reliable instruments measuring personality. Most personality instruments currently used in South Africa are imported from abroad and therefore have limited utility in the South African context as they have been developed for a specific group. The introduction of technology has resulted in personality measuring instruments increasingly being administered by means of computer-based assessments. The dramatic increase in computer-based assessments has sparked debate regarding the use of various response scale categories in personality assessment. The present study, which forms part of the broader South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) project, focused on the preliminary qualitative personality structure produced by the SAPI project, which is categorised into nine clusters. The current study aimed to determine whether a dichotomous or a polytomous response scale administered by means of computer-based assessments would be more suitable for measuring the preliminary personality structure of the SAPI. The participants were first- and second-year undergraduate students enrolled at a tertiary institution (N = 490). The inventory consisted of 262 closed-ended personality statements and was administered in both the dichotomous (“agree” and “disagree”) and polytomous (“strongly agree”, “agree”, “somewhat agree/disagree”, “strongly disagree” and “disagree”) response scale form. The results, which were based on an exploratory factor analysis, revealed that 37.2% of the items in the dichotomous response scale were problematic, whereas only 3.6% of the items in the polytomous response scale were problematic. By comparing the factor structures of the dichotomous and polytomous response scales, the polytomous response scale was determined to be more suitable for measuring the preliminary personality structure of the SAPI. The conclusion was based on two specific criteria. Firstly, the factor structure across the polytomous response scale loaded similarly to the qualitative personality structure that was conceptualised in the first phase of the SAPI project. Secondly, Cronbach alpha coefficients, ranging from 0.60 to 0.87 across the nine factors, with the exception of the Integrity and Openness clusters with values of 0.45 and 0.53 respectively, for the polytomous response scale were higher than those yielded by the dichotomous response scale.
Mini Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
Human Resource Management
unrestricted

Because of their seemingly universal appeal, game elements such as points, goals and leaderboards, are increasingly being incorporated into non-entertainment situations with the aim of increasing user performance. This process is referred to as gamification. However, little empirical research exists on gamification’s effectiveness in enhancing performance, particularly with respect to moderating influence of user personality traits. Social gamification that involves more than one participant incorporates social interdependence, which takes form as negative interdependence (competitive in nature) or positive interdependence (cooperative in nature). Based on the hypothesis that the interdependence type underlying a gamification system would appeal to differing personality traits, this study reports a quasi-experiment involving a platform designed to manipulate participant interdependence structure among cooperation, competition, and neutrality, with the latter acting as the control condition. These three interdependence structures functioned as the experiment’s independent variable, with measures of participant performance as dependent variables, together with the participant personality traits assessed using the five factor model of personality acting as moderating variables. 294 undergraduate participants worked with the platform on a voluntary basis over an eight-week period, spending 38,180 minutes and performing 3,275 actions. At the conclusion of the experiment, the data collected were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVAs, multilevel mixed method regression models, and a generalised estimating equation. The study’s results yield significant evidence that incorporating gamification in the experimental platform increases participant performance as measured by completed actions on the platform, and that participant personality traits moderated performance depending on interdependence structure. Significant results suggest that within the gamified platform, Extraversion positively moderates performance under competition and Openness positively moderates performance under cooperation.

In general, scholars agree that there are several contextual factors influencing immigrants in the UK to use alcohol and other drugs. Not much is known however about how and to what extend acculturative changes are influencing substance use in immigrants and members of minority ethnic groups. This study aims to develop a better understanding of the predictors of substance use by exploring the impact that acculturative changes have in patterns of substance use amongst Brazilian immigrants in the UK. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted in a cross-national research sample compromised of Brazilian participants residing in the UK (n=164) and Brazilian participants residing in Brazil (n=161). Initially, quantitative analysis was carried out to explore country differences in types, frequency, and predictors of substance use. The quantitative analysis was followed by qualitative data collection to explore in-depth complex issues related to social and cultural factors that underlie the susceptibility of Brazilian immigrants to use alcohol and other drugs. Thematic Analysis was adopted to analyse the qualitative data. It was observed that Brazilians who had immigrated to the UK showed an overall increase in the frequency with which they used substances, however, significant differences were only found in recreational drug use, poly-substance use, and binge drinking. Such shifts were influenced by attitudes, values, and behavioural changes, and were strongly predicted by the stress caused by threat to cultural identity. Both drinking for social motives and gender differences predicted involvement in substance use in Brazilians in the UK and in Brazil, whereas resilience, impulsivity, positive and negative affect, and reasons for drinking motivated by conformity and coping where found to have no effect on patterns of substance use in either of the samples. Overall, it seems that, whilst Brazilians in the UK are motivated by negative reinforcement processes to use substances (e.g. coping), in Brazil participants are motivated by positive reinforcement processes (e.g. enhancement). High contact with both British and Brazilian cultures will only predict substance use when threat to cultural identity moderates this relationship. Brazilian immigrants new to the UK are at greater risk for substance use independent of any acculturative strategies or stresses. Length of residence in the UK does not predict the adoption of integration strategies and the stresses caused by acculturation can be experienced throughout the life course of the Brazilian immigrants in the UK.

A limited number of culturally appropriate personality assessments are currently available in South Africa due to the mass importation of psychometric assessments in the past. The South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) project was initiated as a result of the growing demand for culturally appropriate assessment instruments as well as the change in South African legislation regarding psychometric testing (Section 8 of the Employment Equity Act, No. 47 of 2013). The SAPI project aims to identify universal and culture-specific personality traits for all 11 language groups in South Africa. The project’s central research objectives are to develop a personality instrument that complies with South African legislation, meets all the regular criteria for adequate assessment as formulated in psychology, and is relevant for South-African institutions. The SAPI project consists of multiple studies that are aimed at enabling the use of the SAPI within the open market in order to allow practitioners to validly assess personality within the South African context. This study forms part of the quantitative body of work within the SAPI project and builds on the literature of the SAPI, resulting in a more acceptable instrument. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether block– or random-item sequencing provides the best factorial replication within the framework of the SAPI. This was investigated by comparing the results obtained by administering both block- and random versions of the SAPI to a total sample of N=429 respondents at multiple private nursing education institutions. Both the block– and random-SAPI versions consisted of 262 closed-ended questions that were administered using a pen-and-paper methodology. The data preparation indicated that four block- and 19 random-items were problematic and could not be included in the analysis. After removing the problematic items, a strategy was used to formulate a conclusion pertaining to the superior item sequence. This strategy included performing an exploratory factor analysis on each of the nine factors for both the random- and block-response sets. The factor loadings were analyzed, interpreted and presented separately. The researcher looked at the most plausible sub-cluster structure for each of the nine factors, followed by assessing the structural similarity between the two response sets by comparing them to the conceptual qualitative personality structure to identify which response set was more closely related. The reliability of all the factors and sub-clusters for both response sets were also analysed and reported. The final conclusion was derived from an overall comparison made between the block- and random response sets. By utilizing the strategy it was determined that the block response set provided for a better structurally and factorially valid framework when applied to the conceptual personality structure of the SAPI. However, upon closer inspection, the differences between the block- and random response sets seem to be trivial. The findings therefore indicate that the random response set can also be used as only minor differences were noticed when compared to the block response set.
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
tm2015
Human Resource Management
MCom
Unrestricted

This study explored the potential for physical activity to be an effective, healthy coping strategy alternative to self-harm behaviors. Regression analyses were performed to assess how physical activity level related to risk factors (i.e., emotional dysregulation, self-esteem, and depression) and self-harm behaviors. The relationship between selfharm and exercise motivations was also examined. Participants were recruited from two high schools (n = 95) and one university (n = 72) in the southeastern region of the United States. Analyses were run using the following measures from a survey packet: adapted Exercise Questionnaire (Helmerhorst, Brage, Warren, Besson, & Ekelund, 2012), Exercise Motivations Inventory—Second Edition (Markland & Ingledew, 1997), Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (Klonsky & Olino, 2008), Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – 2nd Edition (Reynolds, 2002), Eating Disorders Inventory – 3 (Garner, 2004), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Miller, Anton, & Townson, 2008). Of the 167 who participated, 41.3% endorsed at least one instance of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Results indicated that NSSI frequency was significantly negatively associated with physical activity (β = -.22, p < 0.01). An interaction was found between physical activity and depression, such that physical activity moderated the relationship between depression and self-harm. The overall model explained 28.2% of the variance, F(3,145) = 10.02, p < .01. Affiliation and appearancebased exercise motivations significantly associated with decreased (β = -.244, p = .047) and increased (β = .320, p = .001) frequencies of self-harm, respectively. Overall, the findings suggest that physical activity may possess a protective nature against self-harm behaviors, especially in individuals with depressive symptoms.

This paper assessed the redundancy of the construct of grit (Crede, Tynan, Harms, 2017) compared to other similar constructs using structural equation modeling to remove the effect of measurement error. A series of models regressed grit and its subdomains (passion and perseverance of effort) on self-control, conscientiousness, achievement striving, and resilience. The R-squared values for these models ranged from 0.62 to 0.89. It is concluded that the concept of grit is mostly redundant with other constructs and is therefore an example of a Jangle fallacy (Kelley, 1927). The unique aspect of grit is mostly related to its passion subdomain. The latent correlation between the passion and perseverance of effort subdomains was r = 0.19. Further, it was found that several popular measures failed to conform to their intended factor structure.

Thesis (MCom) --Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations in a free market economy exist with the purpose to serve and provide the market with products and services that the market values while at the same time satisfying the triple bottom line of profit, people and planet. The extent to which an organisation will succeed in this aim, however, depends to a large extent on the calibre of its workforce. Human resource management represents a range of interventions with the purpose of contributing to an organisation’s success, through the acquisition and maintenance of a high quality and competent work force, as well as to ensure the effective and efficient use of human talent in a manner that will add value to an organisation. Personnel selection represents one of these human resource functions and thereby constitutes a critical human resource management intervention in as far as it attempts to regulate human capital movement into, through and out of the organisation with the expectation that this will result in increased employee job performance. Industrialorganisational psychologists and human resources practitioners frequently use psychometric/psychological tests in the selection process, which provide them with objective information on complex constructs such as intellectual ability or personality, that are hypothesised to be determinants of the level of job performance that selected applicants will achieve. Accurate predictions can however, only be derived from measures of such psychometric/psychological tests if the constructs they attempt to measure are in fact determinants of job performance, if the tests provide reliable, valid and unbiased measures of these constructs and the nature of the relationship between the predictor constructs and the criterion construct is validly understood. Personality represents an influential determinant of job performance. The Personality and Preference Inventory-Normative (PAPI-N) is a personality questionnaire that is widely used in industry. This provides the essential justification for the primary objective of this research, which was to evaluate the first-order factor structure of the PAPI-N through a factor analytic investigation on a relatively large sample of the South African working population. The data used in this study was obtained from the data archives of Cubiks (Pty) Ltd, with written permission from the intellectual property holder, to utilise the sample data for the purpose of this research. The South African PAPI-N database comprised all respondents who were assessed by Work Dynamics, the official distributor of Cubiks’s products and services in South Africa, in the period 2007 to 2012. Item and dimensionality analyses were performed on the 20 subscales of the PAPI-N as well as the Social Desirability scale. This was done to assess the success with which the subscales represented the underlying personality constructs. The results in the item analysis revealed that in about 50% of the PAPI-N subscales concern arose about the extent to which the items of the subscales responded in unison to systematic differences in a single underlying latent variable. Results from the dimensionality analysis showed that 12 of the 20 personality dimension measures were compatible with the position that the items comprising these subscales measure what they are designed to measure. In contrast, eight out of the 20 subscales failed the uni-dimensionality test. A spectrum of goodness-of-fit statistics was used to evaluate the measurement model fit. The measurement model’s overall fit was acceptable. The null hypothesis of exact fit was rejected but the null hypothesis of close fit could not be rejected (p>.05). The fit indices reflected a close fit in the parameter and a very good model fit in the sample. Although the measurement model fitted the data closely, the factor loadings (although statistically significant) were generally of a moderate degree. Approximately twenty-eight percent (27.78%) of the completely standardised factor loadings fell below the critical cut-off value of .50. This would suggest that the individual items generally (72.22%) do represent the latent personality dimensions they were designed to reflect acceptably well, but that in a little bit more than a quarter of the items, less than 25% of the variance in the item responses was due to variance in the latent variable it was designed to reflect. Discriminant validity was also investigated. The results showed that PAPI-N, although with some difficulty, permit the successful discrimination between the unique aspects of the latent personality dimensions. The results of the confirmatory factor analyses suggests that while the intention of the PAPI-N to have sets of items reflecting specific primary personality factors succeeded, the subscale item measures mostly hold a sizable amount of systematic and random error. Based on the above findings, this personality measure should be used with caution in personnel selection in South Africa. Nevertheless, this study serves to extend the understanding of the psychometric properties of the PAPI-N on samples different from the UK sample on which it was originally developed and standardised. Its findings should assist in eliciting the necessary further research needed to establish the psychometric credentials of the PAPI-N as a valuable assessment instrument in South Africa with confidence. Recommendations for future research are made.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies in ‘n vrye-mark ekonomie het ten doel om die samelewing te dien en om die mark met produkte en dienste te voorsien wat waarde toevoeg, terwyl hulle terselfertyd die driedubbele eis van wins, mense en die planet bevredig. Die mate waarin die organisasie in hierdie doel slaag, hang egter in ‘n groot mate af van die kwaliteit van sy werksmag. Menslike hulpbronbestuur verteenwoordig 'n verskeidenheid ingrypings met die doel om by te dra tot 'n organisasie se sukses, deur die verkryging en instandhouding van 'n hoë gehalte en bekwame arbeidsmag, sowel as om die doeltreffende en doelmatige gebruik van menslike talent te verseker op 'n wyse wat waarde tot die organisasie toevoeg. Die keuring van personeel verteenwoordig een van hierdie menslike hulpbronfunksies. As sodanig vorm dit 'n kritieke menslike hulpbronbestuuringryping insoverre dit poog om die beweging van menslike kapitaal in, deur en uit die organisasie te reguleer met die verwagting dat dit sal lei tot verhoogde werksprestasie deur werknemers. Bedryfsielkundiges en menslike hulpbronpraktisyns gebruik dikwels psigometriese/sielkundige toetse in die keuringsproses, wat hulle met objektiewe inligting oor komplekse konstrukte soos intellektuele vermoë of persoonlikheid voorsien, onder die veronderstelling dat hulle belangrike determinante is van die vlak van werkverrigting wat gekeurde aansoekers sal bereik. Akkurate voorspellings kan egter slegs uit sodanige psigometriese/sielkundige toetse afgelei word indien die konstrukte wat hulle probeer meet, in werklikheid determinante van werkprestasie is, indien die toetse betroubare, geldige en onsydige metings van hierdie konstrukte gee en indien die aard van die verwantskap tussen die voorspellerkonstrukte en die kriteriumkonstruk geldig verstaan word. Persoonlikheid is 'n invoedryke determinant van werkprestasie. Die Personality and Preference Inventory-Normative (PAPI-N) is 'n persoonlikheidsvraelys wat algemeen in die bedryf gebruik word. Daarin lê die regverdiging vir die primêre doel van hierdie navorsing, naamlik om die eerste-orde faktor struktuur van die PAPI -N deur 'n factor-analitiese ondersoek op 'n relatief groot steekproef van die Suid-Afrikaanse werkende bevolking te evalueer, geleë. Die data wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, is verkry uit die data-argiewe van Cubiks (Pty) Ltd, met die skriftelike toestemming van die intellektuele eiendiom-eienaar, om die steekproefdata aan te wend vir die doel van hierdie navorsing. Die Suid-Afrikaanse PAPI-N databasis bestaan uit al die kandidate wat geassesseer is deur Work Dynamics, die amptelike verspreider van Cubiks se produkte en dienste in Suid-Afrika, in die tydperk 2007-2012. Item en dimensionaliteitsontledings is uitgevoer op die 20 subskale van die PAPI-N, sowel as die sosiale wenslikheidskaal. Dit is gedoen om die sukses te bepaal waarmee die subskale die onderliggende persoonlikheidskonstrukte verteenwoordig. Die resultate van die itemontleding het getoon dat ten opsigte van sowat 50 % van die PAPI-N subskale, kommer bestaan oor die mate waartoe die items van die subskale in harmonie reageer op sistematiese verskille in 'n enkele onderliggende latente veranderlike. Resultate van die dimensionaliteitontleding het getoon dat 12 van die 20 persoonlikheidsdimensiesmetings versoenbaar is met die standpunt dat die items waaruit hierdie subskale bestaan, meet wat hulle ontwerp is om te meet. In teenstelling hiermee het agt uit die 20 subskale nie die uni- dimensionaliteitstoets geslaag nie. A verskeidenheid pasgehalte-maatstawwe is gebruik om die pasgehalte van die metingsmodel te ondersoek. Oorkoepelend was die pasgehalte van die metingsmodel aanvaarbaar. Die nulhipotese van presiese passing is verwerp maar die nulhipotse van benaderde passing is nie verwerp nie (p>.05). The pasgehalte-maatstawwe het gedui op ‘n benaderde passing in die parameter en baie goeie modelpassing in die steekproef. Ofskoon die metingsmodel benaderde passing getoon het was die faktorladings (alhoewel statisties beduidend) oor die algemeen matig in omvang. Ongeveer agt-en-twintig present (27.78%) van die volledig gestandaardiseerde faktorladings was kleiner as die kritieke afsnywaarde van .50. Dit suggereer dat die items oor die algemeen (72.22%) wel die latent persoonlikheidsdimensies wat hul geoormerk is om te reflekteer, bevredigend reflekteer. In ‘n klein bietjie meer as ‘n kwart van die items is minder as 25% van die variansie in die itemresponse te wyte aan variansie in die latent veranderlike wat die item ontwerp was om te reflekteer. Diskriminantgeldigheid was ook ondersoek. Die resultate dui daarop dat die PAPI-N, ofskoon nie sonder problem nie, wel die suksesvolle onderskeid tussen die unieke aspekte van die persoonlikheidsdimensies moontlik maak. Die resultate van die bevestigende faktorontleding dui daarop dat, terwyl die bedoeling van die PAPI-N om stelle items te hê wat spesifieke primêre persoonlikheidsfaktore reflekteer geslaagd was, die subskaal-itemmetings meestal 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid sistematiese en toevallige fout bevat. Gebaseer op die bogenoemde bevindinge, moet hierdie persoonlikheidsmeting met omsigtigheid gebruik word in personeelkeuring in Suid-Afrika. Nietemin, dra hierdie studie by tot ‘n groter begrip van die psigometriese eienskappe van die PAPI-N op steekproewe wat verskil van die Verenigde Koninkryk steekproef waarop dit oorspronklik ontwikkel en gestandaardiseerd is. Die bevindinge sal help om die nodige verderde navorsing te ontlok wat nodig is om die PAPI-N met vertroue as 'n waardevolle meetinstrument in Suid-Afrika te vestig. Aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word gemaak.

This program of research was aimed at investigating a novel application of computer aided text analysis (CATA). To date, CATA has been used in a wide variety of disciplines, including Psychology, but never in the area of personnel selection. Traditional personnel selection techniques have met with limited success in the prediction of costly training failures for some occupational groups such as pilot and air traffic controller. Accordingly, the overall purpose of this thesis was to assess the validity of linguistic style to select personnel. Several studies were used to examine the structure of language in a personnel selection setting; the relationship between linguistic style and the individual differences dimensions of ability, personality and vocational interests; the validity of linguistic style as a personnel selection tool and the differences in linguistic style across occupational groups. The participants for the studies contained in this thesis consisted of a group of 810 Royal Australian Air Force Pilot, Air Traffic Control and Air Defence Officer trainees. The results partially supported two of the eight hypotheses; the other six hypotheses were supported. The structure of the linguistic style measure was found to be different in this study compared with the structure found in previous research. Linguistic style was found to be unrelated to ability or vocational interests, although some overlap was found between linguistic style and the measure of personality. In terms of personnel selection validity, linguistic style was found to relate to the outcome of training for the occupations of Pilot, Air Traffic Control and Air Defence Officer. Linguistic style also demonstrated incremental validity beyond traditional ability and selection interview measures. The findings are discussed in light of the Five Factor Theory of Personality, and motivational theory and a modified spreading activation network model of semantic memory and knowledge. A general conclusion is drawn that the analysis of linguistic style is a promising new tool in the area of personnel selection.

Les préférences, les aptitudes et la personnalité prédisent un large éventail de réalisations économiques. Je les mets en correspondance dans un cadre structurel de prise de décision en utilisant des données expérimentales uniques collectées sur plus de 1 200 personnes prenant chacune plus de 100 décisions à enjeu financier.J’estime conjointement les distributions des préférences pour le risque et le temps dans la population, leur stabilité au niveau individuel et la tendance des gens à faire des erreurs. J’utilise le modèle à préférences aléatoires (RPM) dont il a été récemment démontré que ses propriétés théoriques sont supérieures à celles des modèles précédemment employés. Je montre que le RPM a une forte validité interne. Les cinq paramètres structurels estimés dominent un large éventail de variables démographiques et socio-économiques lorsqu'il s'agit d'expliquer des choix individuels observés.Je démontre l’importance économique et économétrique de l’utilisation des chocs aux préférences et de l’incorporation du paramètre dit de « la main tremblante ». Les erreurs et l’instabilité des préférences sont liées à des capacités différentes. Je propose un indice de rationalité qui les condense en un indicateur unique prédictif des pertes de bien-être.J'utilise un modèle à facteurs pour extraire la capacité cognitive et les « Big Five » traits de la personnalité à partir de nombreuses mesures. Ils expliquent jusqu’à 50% de la variation des préférences des gens et de leur capacité à faire des choix rationnels. La conscienciosité explique à elle seule 45% et 10% de la variation transversale du taux d'actualisation et de l'aversion au risque, ainsi que 20% de la variation de leur stabilité individuelle. En outre, l'aversion au risque est liée à l'extraversion et les erreurs dépendent des capacités cognitives, de l’effort, et des paramètres des tâches. Les préférences sont stables pour l'individu médian. Néanmoins, une partie de la population a une certaine instabilité des préférences qui est indicative d’une connaissance de soi imparfaite.Ces résultats ont des implications à la fois pour la spécification des modèles économiques de forme réduite et structurels, et aussi pour l’explication des inégalités et de la transmission intergénérationnelle du statut socio-économique
Preferences, ability, and personality predict a wide range of economic outcomes. I establish a mapping between them in a structural framework of decision-making under risk and delay using unique experimental data with information on over 100 incentivized choice tasks for each of more than 1,200 individuals.I jointly estimate population distributions of risk and time preferences complete with their individual-level stability and of people’s propensity to make mistakes. I am the first to do so using the Random Preference Model (RPM) which has been recently shown to have desirable theoretical properties over previously used frameworks. I show that the RPM has high internal validity. The five estimated structural parameters largely dominate a wide range of demographic and socio-economic variables when it comes to explaining observed individual choices between risky lotteries and time-separated payments.I demonstrate the economic and econometric significance of appending shocks directly to preferences and of incorporating the trembling hand parameter - their necessary complement in this framework. Mistakes and preference instability are not only separately identified but they are also linked to different cognitive and non-cognitive skills. I propose a Rationality Index which condenses them into a single indicator predictive of welfare loss.I use a factor model to extract cognitive ability and Big Five personality traits from noisy measures. They explain up to 50% of the variation in both average preferences and in individuals’ capacity to make consistent rational choices. Conscientiousness explains 45% and 10% respectively of the cross-sectional variation discount rates and risk aversion respectively as well as 20% of the variation in their individual-level stability. Furthermore, risk aversion is related to extraversion and mistakes are a function of cognitive ability, task design, and of effort. Preferences are stable for the median individual. Nevertheless, a part of the population exhibits some degree of preference instability consistent with imperfect self-knowledge.These results have implications both for specifying reduced form and structural economic models, and for explaining inequality and the inter-generational transmission of socioeconomic status

Geller’s Actively Caring Survey (ACS) was theorized to measure person states deemed necessary to “Actively Care” or act altruistically toward others. Empirical research of the ACS has been limited, and this researcher sought to evaluate its reliability, validity, and factorial consistency. Undergraduate students (n = 1,095) completed the measure online. Hypotheses were partially supported. Unrotated primary component analysis found the ACS to be a unitary measure with 73.3% of the items loading onto the first factor. The ACS showed excellent internal consistency. Convergent and divergent validity with existing measures (i.e., the Big 5 Personality, Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Barratt Impulsiveness, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Venturesomeness scales) was found in 88.9% of the predicted relationships; the ACS was negatively correlated with social desirability. An abbreviated ACS revision produced similar findings. Future studies should evaluate the measure in nonstudent populations, use clinical and industrial settings, and explore predictive validity.

Föreliggande uppsats avser belysa relationen mellan stress och personlighet, detta undersöktes ur ett individorienterat perspektiv som baserades på personlighetsprofiler. Data baserades på en enkätundersökning som mätte personlighet utifrån femfaktormodellen och självupplevd stress. 89 medarbetare på ett svenskt företag deltog i studien, 43 män och 46 kvinnor mellan åldrarna 22 och 66 år. För att klassificera olika personlighetsprofiler genomfördes en klusteranalys. För att sedan undersöka relationen mellan personlighetsprofilerna och upplevd stress jämfördes graden av upplevd stress mellan profilerna. Resultatet visade på att det finns skillnader mellan personlighetsprofilerna avseende graden av upplevd stress. Individer med lägst värden inom extraversion och något lägre värden inom öppenhet i förhållande till de andra dragen och personlighetsprofilerna upplevde högre grad stress. Individer som tillhör personlighetsprofilen med högst värden inom samtliga dimensioner i femfaktormodellen upplevde låg stress.
This paper is intended to describe the relationship between stress and personality, this is examined from an individual-oriented perspective based on personality profiles. The data was based on a questionnaire that measured personality based on the five factor model and self-perceived stress. 89 employees of a Swedish company participated in the study, 43 men and 46 women between the ages of 22 and 66 years. A cluster analysis was used to classify different personality profiles. To later examine the relationship between personality profiles and perceived stress the degree of perceived stress was compared between the profiles. The result showed that there are differences between the personality profiles regarding the level of perceived stress. Individuals with the lowest values in extraversion and slightly lower values of openness in relation to other features and personality profiles, experienced higher levels of stress. Individuals belonging to the personality profile with the highest values in all dimensions of the five factor model experienced low levels of stress.

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Personalidad Resistente (EPR) en estudiantes pertenecientes a universidades privadas de Lima. La muestra quedó compuesta por 300 alumnos (52% mujeres y 48% hombres) con edades entre 18 y 28 años. Se aplicaron los instrumentos EPR, para medir la personalidad resistente, y la Escala de Percepción Global del Estrés (EPGE), que mide la percepción ante situaciones estresantes, con el fin de realizar un análisis convergente y divergente. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, que demostró que la escala puede ser explicada como tres factores relacionados y como un factor con tres dimensiones. En cuanto a la confiabilidad, el EPR muestra una alta consistencia interna al identificarse un Coeficiente de Omega mayor a .90. Así, en base a los resultados, se concluye que el EPR evidencia propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para ser aplicado a estudiantes de universidades privadas de Lima.
This research aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Hardy Personality Scale (HPS) in students belonging to private universities in Lima. The sample is made up of 300 students (52% women and 48% men) with ages between 18 and 28 years. The HPS, to measure hardy personality, and Global Stress Perception Scale (GSPS), that measures the perception of stressful situations, in order perform a convergent and divergent analysis, were the instruments applied. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed as part of the internal structure analysis, which showed that the scale can be explained as a three related factors and as a factor with three dimensions. Regarding reliability, the HPS shows high internal consistency since it has an Omega Coefficient greater than .90. Thus, based on the results, it is concluded that the HPS evidences adequate psychometric properties to be applied to students of private universities in Lima.
Tesis

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Psychology.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-135). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR51707

A Venda version of the South African Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Fifth edition(16PF5) was develop using forward and back translation methods. This version was administered to a sample of 85 Venda speaking subjects. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 30 years old. Item analysis was done and a qualitative analysis of the reasons why items were not successful was done for each scale. Reasons identified included translation errors, problems in understanding the vocabulary and idiomatic language used, the use of the negative form and possible differences in the manifestation of constructs. Given the large number of items to be excluded, only general trends were indicated as to avoid over interpretation. These trends need to be considered when changing or replacing items. The results of this study can be regarded as a first step in developing a Venda version of the 16PF5.
Psychology
M.A. (Psychology)

The last two decades have seen a surge in published research on primate personality. This surge contrasts with the paucity of research over the preceding century. People interested in primate personality research come from a broad range of fields, but they are all interested in measuring primate personality in a way that is reliable, valid, and practical. This dissertation aims to describe the development and evaluation of the construct validity of a new rating scale in chimpanzees. The scale is based on a bottom-up approach to scale development and was developed using steps from both Uher (2008a,b) and Gosling (1998). As described in Chapter 3, the scale was evaluated by using it to rate 143 chimpanzees at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Facility in Bastrop, TX. Twenty-one people who have worked with the chimpanzees between 6 months to 20 years rated the chimpanzees. Chapter 4 describes how inter-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to calculate the reliability of the items on the scale. There was only one item (predictable) that turned out to not be reliable. The other 40 items were included in subsequent analyses. An exploratory factor analysis, as described in Chapter 5, was performed in order to determine the structure underlying the scale. Five methods were used to determine that a six-factor solution fit the data best. The six factors were labeled Reactivity, Dominance, Openness, Extroversion Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness based on the degree to that they correlated with other previous chimpanzees scales that used those labels. The convergent and discriminant validity of the factors was evaluated, as described in Chapter 6, by looking at the predicted relationships between each of the six factors and the variables of sex, age, rearing history, behavior in reaction to a novel stimulus, general behavior, injuries, illnesses, blood chemistry, and cortisol. The results indicate that there is a lack of evidence for convergent validity, but some evidence for discriminant validity of the new chimpanzee rating scale. The discussion in Chapter 7 focuses on the findings from the study as well as strengths and limitations of the new chimpanzee rating scale.
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碩士
國立新竹教育大學
教育心理與諮商碩士學位在職進修專班
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The relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction is a popular issue that has attracted enterprise attention. Many studies have explored this relationship and generated abundant empirical survey data. However, domestic literature has not conducted integrated meta-analysis on this issue in Taiwan. After searching for studies during August 2001 and July 2011 from the National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan and the PerioPath Index to Taiwan Periodical Literature System, National Central Library, we collected 1,134 correlations from 86 articles and examined the relationship between the Five-Factor Model of personality and Job Satisfaction by using Meta-analysis. Subsequently, we investigated whether the correlation between the Five-Factor Model and Job Satisfaction was affected by moderators. The results indicated that the traits in the Five-Factor Model was moderately and positively correlated with Job Satisfaction (Extraversion vs. Job Satisfaction: r ̅=0.319; Agreeableness vs. Job Satisfaction: r ̅=0.296; Consciousness vs. Job Satisfaction: r r ̅=0.303; Emotional Stability vs. Job Satisfaction: r ̅=0.243; and Openness vs. Job Satisfaction: r ̅=0.217). The subscales of Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and Job Descriptive Index were used to analyze the correlation between personality traits and satisfaction. The results showed that moderately positive correlations between traits and job satisfaction existed in each subscale. In testing the moderating effects, the results showed that Job satisfaction measurement tools exerted moderating effects on the relationships between Extraversion and Job satisfaction and between Openness and Job Satisfaction. Occupation also moderated the correlation between Personality Traits and Job Satisfaction, suggesting that correlation between Personality Traits and Job Satisfaction differed among various fields of occupations. Finally, we proposed discussion and suggestions based on the results to provide references for practices and future research.

This research investigated the psychometric characteristics of self-actualisation, locus of control, sense of coherence and emotional intelligence as constructs of psychological wellness. Details of the intercorrelatedness of the various constructs will assist in understanding the nature of psychological wellness and its measurement. In the literature review a definition for psychological wellness was determined by studying various definitions and models of psychological wellness. During this investigation it was determined that the four constructs mentioned above were related to psychological wellness. An explorative factor analysis was conducted to address the empirical research questions. Three factors (psychological adjustment, self-actualisation and stress management) were extracted from the analysis. The descriptive statistics were analysed in terms of management responsibility, gender and race. The findings of the explorative factor analysis supported the theoretical definition of psychological wellness. It was found that self-actualisation played a key role in psychological wellness. Meaningfulness, although indicating a low loading on all three factors, must be present to provide meaning to day to day functioning.
Industrial and Organisational Psychology
MCOM (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Over the last years, the routes-to-market have increased with innovative new ways of reaching the end-consumer. In the UK, the grocery landscape has experienced a particularly strong proliferation of channels, resulting in the new phenomenon of multichannel shopping. It is imperative for managers to understand what drives shoppers’ channel choice in order to effectively design channel structures. This dissertation investigates the influence of personality traits onto channel choice across the shopping stages of information search, purchase and delivery. The studied personality traits are variables that vary personally and situationally and were based on the Five Factors Model and additionally generated situational traits. The dissertation further provides a customer segmentation that takes into consideration the newly adopted multichannel behaviour. Results suggest that global and situational traits impact channel adoption across the studied stages. Convenience Orientation, Value-Consciousness and Consciousness have a major impact on channel usage for in-store information search and purchasing. Technology Usefulness was found to drive information search online. Further, Consciousness and Convenience Orientation directly impact channel adoption for purchasing and delivery. Overall, three segments were identified comprising a traditional store-focused segment and two multichannel segments.
Durante os últimos anos, as estratégias de entrada de mercado aumentaram com inovadores métodos de alcance ao consumidor final. No Reino Unido, o setor de supermercados vivenciou uma extensa proliferação de canais de acesso ao consumidor, resultando em um novo fenômeno de compra chamado multicanal. É imperativo para gerentes entender o que motiva consumidores na escolha de canais para que seja possível desenvolver os canais adequados de venda. Esta dissertação investiga a influencia de traços de personalidade na escolha de canais nas seguintes fases de compra: procura de informações, compra e entrega. Os traços de personalidade investigados são as variáveis que variam em nível pessoal e situacional e foram baseadas no Modelo de Cinco Forças e traços adicionais gerados. A investigação fornece também uma segmentação de clientes que considerando o comportamento multicanal recentemente adotado. Resultados sugerem que traços globais e situacionais tem impacto na escolha de canal adotada durante as fases de compra. Conveniência, percepção de valor e percepção tem grande impacto no uso do canal de loja física para procura de informação e compra. Utilidade da tecnologia foi encontrada como motivador para informação online. Salienta-se que percepção e conveniência impactam diretamente na adoção de um canal para compra e entrega. Em resumo, foram identificados três segmentos sendo um focado na tradicional compra em loja e dois segmentos multicanais.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia da Saúde.
As dependências Online têm sido descritas como um fenómeno decorrente da sistemática utilização às sofisticadas tecnologias de informação e comunicação actuais. O presente estudo teve como principal objectivo a construção e validação de uma nova escala com base num modelo construído sobre a Percepção de Tempo de Utilização Online (PTUO). Pretendeu-se compreender a relação entre este novo instrumento de medida e a adição à Internet. Bem como a associação entre os cinco traços de personalidade e a escala PTUO. Participaram 1106 sujeitos de nacionalidade portuguesa (F= 548; M= 558), entre os 11 e os 80 anos (M= 31.8; DP= 14.4). Os resultados obtidos nesta amostra, revelaram que a nova escala PTUO apresenta uma estrutura unifactorial com qualidades métricas satisfatórias. A análise confirmatória demonstrou índices de ajustamento aceitáveis com a solução a um factor. Tendo sido verificado uma fiabilidade compósita de .91 e um α= .92. Demonstrou-se que a escala apresenta uma correlação positiva com a dependência Online e que está associada positiva e negativamente a alguns traços da personalidade. Concluiu-se que a PTUO poderá ser um factor relevante e com utilidade prática para compreender a emergência das dependências de comportamento associadas à utilização das TIC’s.
Online dependencies have been described as a phenomenon arising from the systematic use of sophisticated Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s). The main objective of the present study is the construction and validation of a new scale based on a model built on Online Time Perception (POUT). The study purported to understand the relationship between this new instrument of measure and Internet addiction. As well as the level of association between the five identified personality traits and the new scale POUT. A total of 1106 subjects of portuguese nationality (F = 549, M = 558), aged 11 to 80 years (M = 31.8; SD = 14.4) participated. The results obtained in this sample, revealed that the new scale POUT presents a unifactorial structure with satisfactory metric qualities. Further confirmatory analysis demonstrated acceptable adjustment index levels with the one-factor solution. A composite reliability of .91 and α = .92 were identified. The analysis demonstrated that the scale sets a positive correlation with Online dependence and that such is positively and negatively associated with some personality traits. It was concluded that the POUT may be a relevant and practical factor to understand the emergence of behavior dependencies which are associated with the use of ICT’s.

A large body of literature suggests that cognitive abilities are important determinants for training and job performance, including flight performance. The associations between measures of ability tests and job performance have been the focus of many empirical studies, resulting in an overall conclusion that general mental ability, g, is the main source of prediction, while other narrower abilities have limited power for predicting job performance. Despite the attention given to cognitive ability-flight performance relationships, their associations have not been fully understood at the broad construct level, and most extant literature focused on the relations at the observed scores level. Thus, the present dissertation study was designed to contribute to the progression of this understanding by examining the relations between cognitive abilities and flight training performance, using data from four U.S. Air Force (USAF) pilot samples. For comparison, one navigator and one air battle manager sample were also analyzed. The data were obtained from correlation matrices of prior investigations and analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures.

Four studies are reported in the thesis: (1) preliminary study, (2) primary validation study, (3) cross-validation study, and (4) cross-occupation validation study. The preliminary study assessed the test battery used in the subsequent predictive studies. The primary validation study introduced a bifactor predictive SEM model for testing the influence of cognitive abilities in predicting pilot performance. The cross-validation study assessed the consistency of the predictive model suggested in the primary validation study, using three additional pilots’ samples. The cross-occupation validation study compared the predictive model using data from three aviation-related occupations (flying, navigation, air battle management). Ability factors were extracted from scores of pilot applicants on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), the USAF officers’ primary selection test battery, whereas the flight performance scores were obtained from pilot records during the flight training program.

In addition to the g factor, verbal ability, quantitative ability, spatial ability, perceptual speed ability, and aviation-related acquired knowledge are the six latent cognitive ability factors investigated in the reported studies. Pilot performance measures were modeled either as observed or latent variables covering ratings of academic and hands-on flying performance in different phases of the training program. The studies of this thesis established that (1) general ability contributes substantially to the prediction models; however, it is not the only important predictor, (2) aviation-related acquired knowledge is the most robust predictor of pilot performance among the abilities examined, with a role even exceeding that of g, (3) perceptual speed predicted pilot performance uniquely in several occasions, while verbal, spatial, and quantitative abilities demonstrated trivial incremental validity for hands-on pilot performance beyond that provided by the g measure, and (4) the relative importance of cognitive abilities tends to vary across aviation occupations.