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The impact of transient error on trait research

Bibliographic Data

ID6205720
AuthorsMichael Chmielewski, Michael S Chmielewski (0000-0001-8126-8786, University of Iowa), David Watson (0000-0002-2749-6136, University of Iowa)
Year2009
Volume97
Issue1
Pages186-202
Publication date2009-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/a0015618
PMID19586248
OpenAlexW2157011056
LanguageEN
Citations received46
References cited37

Temporal instability can reflect either true psychological change or transient measurement error, and it is important that trait psychologists be able to distinguish one from the other. The authors report results from large retest studies of Big Five, trait affectivity, and personality disorder measures across time frames (2 months and 2 weeks) over which these constructs should show little or no true change. On average, nearly 25% of the variance in the measures was a product of transient error rather than true change; however, the proportion of error varied widely-but consistently-across measures. In addition, a reexamination of long-term longitudinal data demonstrated that ignoring transient error can lead to inaccurate conclusions. Most notably, a substantial portion of the observed instability in the Big Five and trait affectivity is due to transient error; thus, these traits are even more stable than commonly thought. The present data further suggest that previous reports of differential stability between the Big Five and trait affectivity are due, in part, to differential levels of transient error in measures of these constructs

Big Five personality traits · Developmental psychology · Negative affectivity · Personality · Trait · Transient (computer programming) · Variance (accounting) · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Mental Health Research Topics · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works46
Citations per year2,88
Citation span2010 - 2026 (17)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 42
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