Effects of Multiple Determinacy and Measurement Error on Trait-Behavior and Behavior-Behavior Relations: An Integrated Conceptual Model

Abstract

The relationship is demonstrated between two explanations for the attenuation of observed trait-behavior and behavior-behavior correlations: multiple determinacy, as explicated recently by Ahadi and Diener and by Strube, and measurement error, as discussed previously be Epstein, Ajzen, and others. The former pertains to multiple determinants of a behavior construct other than the trait of interest, whereas the latter pertains to multiple determinants of a behavior measure other than the behavior construct of interest. However, it is shown that in the two cases the fundamental psychometric principles involved are the same. Implications of this integrated conceptual perspective are explored with respect to the magnitude of observed trait-behavior and behavior-behavior correlations that should be expected under different circumstances, focusing particularly on the distinction between global and more narrowly defined traits.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ahadi, S. , & Diener, E. (1989). Multiple determinants and effect size. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 398-406.

Ajzen, I. (1988). Attitudes, personality, and behavior. Chicago: Dorsey.

Cronbach, L. J. , Gleser, G. C. , Nanda, H. , & Rajaratnam, N. (1972). The dependability of behavioral measurements: Theory of generalizability for scores and profiles. New York: John Wiley.

Diener, E. , & Larsen, R. J. (1984). Temporal stability and cross-situational consistency of affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 871-883.

Epstein, S. (1979). The stability of behavior: I. On predicting most of the people much of the time. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1097-1126.

Epstein, S. (1980). The stability of behavior: II. Implications for psychological research. American Psychologist, 35, 790-806.

Fishbein, M. , & Ajzen, I. (1974). Attitudes toward objects, as predictors of single and multiple behavioral criteria. Psychological Review, 81, 59-74.

Fishbein, M. , & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Mischel, W. (1968). Personality and assessment. New York: John Wiley.

10.

Mischel, W. , & Peake, P. K. (1982). Beyond deja vu in the search for cross-situational consistency. Psychological Review, 89, 730-755.

11.

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

12.

Shavelson, R. J. , & Webb, N. M. (1991). Generalizability theory: A primer. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

13.

Strube, M. (1991). Multiple determinants and effect size: A more general method of discourse. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 1024-1027.

14.

Thorndike, E. L. (1906). Principles of teaching. New York: Seiler.