Adolescent age trends in primary personality factors measured in T-data: a contribution to use of standardized measures in practice

Abstract

By measuring 1763 boys and girls from 11 to 20 years on 82 objective personality subtests in the OA (Objective Analytic) Battery, scores were assigned to each on 12 source traits. The source traits, from an oblique maximum simple structure factor analysis, were checked and identified as having significant congruence coefficients with patterns previously documented.The batteries were found to have a mean concept validity (against each factor concerned) of 0·81. The standard deviation calculated for single year age groups, (averaged by pooling scores for all years after bringing to the same mean) was used as a unit for plotting change in the yearly means. All 12 factors show steady trends with age, but of diverse and characteristic natures. With one possible exception these age trends agree with findings in the only previous research on T‐data, as well as with secondary factors in Q‐data that have matched with the T‐data factors. The importance of age trend information in deciding among contending hypotheses as to the natures of the primary T‐data personality source traits is briefly illustrated, and the utility of the norms in educational counselling is indicated.