Standards for Research in Personality (Abstract)

Vivid word pictures of personalities have ever been portrayed in biographies and character studies. But until the present half century, no standards had been established for analyses, evaluations or comparisons. Bases for present endeavors in those lines were laid in the nineties by pioneers in general psychology. Progress was accelerated by the maturation of methods of mental measurement from 1908 to 1927. Since the latter date, research men in personality have advanced largely by means of methods developed within their own field. Present tentative standards come from the following sources: (I) Imitations of proved methods of mental measurement. (2) Fulcra, dimensions, rating scales, questionnaires, and indirect tests. (3) Clarifications of the meaning of personality. (4) Various hit and miss trial and error endeavors