Abstract

1. We introduce a system for measuring extraversion using sentence completions. The Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R) were administered to two samples (N = 89). The rating system was developed using members of the first sample who were high or low on self-reported Extraversion, then cross-validated on the second sample. The two measures of Extraversion correlated at r = .74 and r = .47 in the two samples (both p<.01). Inter-rater reliability was satisfactory (ICC = .87 for single ratings). Abstract Introduction Discussion As shown in Table 1, RISB-rated Extraversion correlated strongly with self-reported Extraversion and also displayed moderate negative correlations with Psychoticism and Neuroticism. Self-reported Extraversion and Neuroticism also correlated negatively. Table 1 Correlations between RISB-Rated Extraversion and Self-Reported P-E-N Traits, Sample #1 RISB + P E N L PEN Trait Psychoticism -.34* - +.05 +.16 -.13 Extraversion +.74*** - -.29** -.07 Neuroticism -.43** - -.36** Lie +.07 + p<.10; * p<.05; ** p<.01; *** p<.001 Table 2 shows the results of the cross-validation study. Despite validity shrinkage, RISB-rated Extraversion still correlated strongly with self-reported Extraversion. Moderate negative correlations with Psychoticism and Neuroticism also persisted. As in the first sample, self-report data confirmed the presence of a moderate negative correlation between Extraversion and Neuroticism. Inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC = .87 for single raters and .93 for both combined). Table 2 Correlations between RISB-Rated Extraversion and Self-Reported P-E-N Traits, Sample #2 RISB + P E N L PEN Trait Psychoticism -.36* - -.08 +.01 -.08 Extraversion +.47** - -.34* -.25+ Neuroticism -.24 - +.01 Lie -.20 References Indicators of Low Extraversion Being shy, withdrawn, reserved, insecure, or lacking confidence Taking pleasure in quiet times, relaxing, being tension-free, contented Engaging in solitary activities such as writing, drawing, playing a musical instrument, maybe television watching Not being popular, not being socially prominent, being pushed/bossed around by others Negative feelings about people in general, especially if they frighten, disturb, or bother the writer Desire to be alone, out of the attentional spotlight Fear/concern over being alone too much Specific individuals or small groups of people as caring or as sources of good feelings: references that make it clear that they are unusual or exceptional Fear/concern of dying (generic, not by specific methods such as burning, drowning, etc.) Negative feelings about sports or other physical activities, especially if implying that the writer cannot do well at such tasks Contact For further information contact: sjoy@albertus.edu The Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB; Rotter, Lah, & Rafferty, 1992) is a widely-used personality measure. It features an objective scoring system with strong reliability and validity, but is limited to a single variable: global adjustment. Beyond this, interpretation is qualitative. However, it seems likely that additional information is embedded in the 40 sentences. If, say, one could derive sound estimates of personality traits from an RISB protocol, this would enhance the value of the test. Extraversionis universally accepted as a major personality trait, and has been since Hans Eysenck’sseminal research. Extraversion includes several lower-level traits, such as Sociability, Dominance, and Activity. The goal of the present study was to use a combination of empirical keying and theory to develop a rating system for Extraversion as expressed in sentence completions. These findings clearly indicate that trait extraversion is expressed through one’s verbal productions, including sentence completions, and can be judged reliably using a fairly simple rating system. More work needs to be done to develop the scoring manual to the point where independent judges could be counted on to obtain similar scores, but there is good reason to hope that this can be achieved. Combined with our center’s previous finding that trait Psychoticism also can be evaluated accurately based on sentence completions, this suggests a whole new range of usefulness for the RISB in personality assessment. Case Z26: Low Extraversion Female, Age 20 I like… my job. The happiest time… was when I gave birth to my son. I want to know… graduate from college. Back home… I am alone. I regret… not going away to college. At bedtime… I watch TV. Men… are creatures that good ones are a dize a dozen. The best… time I had was my 1st year of high school. What annoys me… is a lying boyfriend. People… are unpredictable. A mother… is loving and nurturing. I feel… unhappy at Christmas time. My greatest fear... is something bad happening to my son. In high school… I hated my senior year. I can’t… have any more kids until I’m married. Sports… are unimportant. When I was a child… I was a tomboy. My nerves… are normal. Other people… are always in my business. I suffer… from being too kind. I failed… myself in high school. Reading… is food for the mind. My mind… is always going. The future… looks very bright for me. I need… a committed boyfriend. Marriage… is sacred. I am best when… sleeping. Sometimes… I cry when unhappy. What pains me… is neglected children. I hate… murders (intentional). This school… is a good school. I am very… proud of myself. The only trouble… is needing more money. I wish… I had a higher paying job. My father… is 44 years old. I secretly… sneak food into my room. I… love to sleep. Dancing… is great exercise and enjoyment. My greatest worry is… something bad will happen to my son. Most women… are waiting for a solid commitment. Results Two samples of undergraduates were tested. The first sample (N = 45) included 35 females; the second (N = 44), 31 females. All participants completed the RISB and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985). The EPQ-R is a 100-item self-report inventory that measures the “Really Big Three” traits of Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. The EPQ-R was scored for the first sample. The first author studied the RISB protocols for the 14 participants with the highest Extraversion scores and for the 14 with the lowest Extraversion scores. Responses that occurred primarily in one group or the other were noted, then examined to identify common themes. These were used to derive the original RISB Extraversion scale. The second author scored all 45 RISB protocols using this system; these scores were then correlated with EPQ-R scores. The second author and another rater then scored the RISB protocols from the second sample. This was done to cross-validate the original results and check for inter-rater reliability. Case Z16: High Extraversion Female, Age 19 I like…hanging out with my friends The happiest time…is when I’m around people I like I want to know… what will happen in the future? Back home… I can’t wait to play with my puppy. I regret… not taking myself seriously all the time. At bedtime… I rap [sic] myself up tight into my covers. Men… are never the same each ones different in some way. The best… time was when me and my friend talked for hours. What annoys me… is when people lie. People… sometimes can be deciving [sic]. A mother… can be a best friend or a worst enemy. I feel… tired from studying last night. My greatest fear… is losing someone I love very much. In high school… I didn’t try very hard. I can’t… emagion [sic] what life would be like without my mom. Sports… are fun and exciting to play. When I was a child… I was always getting into things I shouldn’t have. My nerves… sometimes get the best of me. Other people… may think what they want about me. I suffer… when I don’t do my work to my full potential. I failed… when I stopped trying. Reading… is a long boring task for me. My mind… is always wondering. The future… I would like to be successful. I need… to have people care about me. Marriage… is a one time shot, your [sic] in it to stay in it. I am best when… I’m happy and excited about something. Sometimes… I think about things I wish I had done. What pains me… is losing a close friend and not knowing why. I hate… when people act one way with you and another with others. This school… makes me happy to be a part of it. I am very… energetic and outgoing but only if I know you. The only trouble… I have is when I don’t think before I do something. I wish… I could go on vacation My father… is a very busy man. I secretly… wish that I would win lotto and be rich. I… know that it’s gona [sic] be cold outside. Dancing… makes me so happy and relieves so much stress. My greatest worry is… not making my parents proud. Most women… don’t feel they are capeabul [sic] of many things. Indicators of High Extraversion Positive emotions (e.g., happiness), especially if energetic in nature (e.g., excitement) – do not score emotions like “calm” or “relaxed” Having fun, enjoying oneself, etc. Spending time/doing things with friends (especially in the plural), boy/girlfriend, etc. Enjoying sports, especially team sports Being popular, well-liked, outgoing, or socially prominent Positive feelings about people, especially in the plural Expressions of confidence in one’s interpersonal influence or social dominance Concern over losing important/loved people (e.g., due to death, bad things happening to them, or just losing touch) Being bothered by liars or unreliable people Fear or rejection of failure Concern over the unpredictability of life/the future Method Albertus Magnus College Stephen P. Joy, Ph.D. Michelle Battista, B.A. USING SENTENCE COMPLETIONS TO MEASURE EXTRAVERSION