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Hypothetical constructs
Psychological constructions used in theory building and hypothesis testing
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Inductive approach
Focuses on the collection of data unconstrained by theory, allowing patterns, relationships and eventually theories to emerge
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Personality profile
Visual or numerical representation of an individual's positions on a set of personality dimensions
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Inductive-hypothetico-deductive spiral
Cyclic process whereby theories that emerge from data are used to generate testable hypotheses and then new data that are fed back into the cycle
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Psychometric tests
Psychological tests that are based on rigorous psychometric properties and related to population norms
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Test reliability
The extent to which a test gives the same result for an individual over time and situation
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Test validity
The extent to which a test measures what it purports to measure
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Test-retest reliability
The extent to which a test gives the same score for an individual on two occasions
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Face validity
When test items can be seen to make sense and relate to the construct being measured
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Construct validity
The extent to which a test measures the construct it claims to measure
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Convergent validity
The extent to which two independent tests give the same scores for the same construct
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Criterion validity
The extent to which the scores on a test equate with scores on an established test or predict an external criterion such as behaviour
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Etic approach
Imports concepts, theories, meanings and tests from one culture to collect data and test hypotheses in another
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Emic approach
Based on concepts, theories, meaning and tests that originate from within the culture in which the research is conducted
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Correlation coefficient
A statistical index of the strength and direction of the relationship between variables
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Primary factors
The first and largest set of factors or dimensions that emerge in factor analysis and can themselves sometimes be simplified further
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Secondary factors
Dimensions or factors found in factor analysis by looking for relationships between primary factors
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Conceptual nervous system
A simple, hypothetical model of an aspect of the nervous system used to explore relationships between brain, behaviour and personality
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Ascending reticulocortical activating system (ARAS)
Part of the brain that controls cortical arousal
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Limbic system
Part of the brain that organizes emotional responses
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