Comrey Personality Scales Research Articles

Personality Structure of Mexican Americans Using the Comrey Personality Scales

The Comrey Personality Scales (CPS) were used to examine the personality structure of 176 Mexican American college students. A majority of the eight factors maintained substantial loadings and corresponded closely with Comrey's normative sample as well as with Brazilian and New Zealand samples. Two factors, Conformity and Orderliness, showed the weakest fit across all four groups. Overall, the CPS shows adequate measurement properties for "normal" personality assessment among Mexican Americans and is preferable to instruments such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). However, the external validity of the CPS with clinical populations must first be determined prior to its use to assess psychopathology among Mexican Americans.

Comparison of Factor Analytic Results with Two-Choice and Seven-Choice Personality Item Formats

A translated version of the Comrey Personality Scales (CPS) using a two-choice item format was administered to 159 male applicants for a motor vehicle operator's license in Israel. Total scores were computed for the 40 homogeneous item subgroups that define the eight personality factors in the taxonomy underlying the CPS. Factor analysis of the intercorrelations among these 40 subvariables resulted in substantial replication of factors found in a previous study employing a seven-choice item format. On the average, higher intercorrelations among subvariables measuring the same factor and higher factor loadings were obtained for the seven-choice item format results. These findings suggest a superiority for the seven-choice over the two-choice item format for personality inventories.

Changes in personality among male and female dental graduates

This study examines changes in personality traits in male and female dental students and recent graduates. The Comrey Personality Scales were administered to two freshman classes, and the test was readministered two months after graduation for one class and twenty-six months after graduation for the other class. Sex. class, and test/retest scores were analyzed using a three-way analysis of variance with repeated measures for each scale. Significant test/retest differences consisted of increases on the Orderliness versus Lack of Compulsion Scale and Conformity versus Rebelliousness Scale and a decrease on the Activity versus Lack of Energy Scale. There were significant sex differences on the Activity versus Lack of Energy, Emotional Stability versus Neuroticism, and Masculinity versus Femininity Scales; a decrease on the Empathy versus Egocentrism Scale occurred among females in one of the classes. Dental students became increasingly more orderly and identified with established social values; they also became less competitive and less driven to excel. The dental school experience may partially explain these changes; however, other conditions, such as maturation and societal influences, may have been involved.

Personality Construct Similarity in Israel and the United States

A translated version of the Comrey Personality Scales was administered to 185 male applicants for motor vehicle operator's license in Israel after special measures were taken to reduce response distortion. Total scores were computed for these subjects over each of the 40 homogeneous item subgroups that define the eight personality factors in the taxonomy underlying the Comrey Personality Scales. Factor analysis of the intercorrelations among these 40 subvariables resulted in substantial confirmation of seven of the eight hypothesized factors. Failure of the eighth factor to emerge may have been due to higher average scores and lower standard deviations for the item groups defining this particular factor, possibly caused by the special conditions under which the subjects were tested. The overall results of this study provide further evidence confirming the robustness of the taxonomy of personality traits underlying the Comrey Personality Scales across language and cultural boundaries.

Comparison Of Certain MMPI, Eysenck, And Comrey Personality Constructs

Translated versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Comrey Personality Scales were administered to 179 applicants for driving licenses in Israel. Intercorrelations were obtained for three Lie Detection scales, three Emotional Stability scales, three Extraversion-Introversion scales, and two Masculinity-Femininity scales. Using a modified multitrait-multimethod procedure, these correlations were evaluated to show good convergent and discriminant validity for most of these measures.

Detecting Emotional Disturbance with the Comrey Personality Scales

Previous investigations have provided evidence for the efficacy of Comrey Personality Scales in discriminating between emotionally “abnormal” and “normal” groups. These correlations are believed to have been attenuated by the presence of emotionally disturbed individuals in the “normal” groups. The Comrey Personality Scales and two questionnaires containing items on life adjustment and marital adjustment were administered to a new sample of “normals.” Substantial correlations between Comrey scales and these criteria of adjustment were found, confirming the hypothesis that Comrey scales are useful for detecting emotional disturbance. These results also support the hypothesis that past correlations between these scales and “abnormal” vs “normal” criteria have been attenuated by the presence of abnormals in the “normal” groups.

The physical conditioning platoon : Two years later

Assessed the 2-year effectiveness of Marines who had been assigned to the Physical Conditioning Platoon during recruit training in 1975 (N = 635). Participants were asked to complete: a background information questionnaire, a self-evaluation scale, a Marine Corps opinion questionnaire, and the Comrey Personality Scales. The total sample was divided into a validation and cross-validation subsample using the 2-year effectiveness or noneffectiveness criterion as the basis. Results of Pearson product-moment correlation analyses showed that higher levels of education, fewer expulsions and suspensions from school favorable attitudes on the Marine Corps Affiliation subscale and favorable self-perceptions on the three Comrey Personality Scales of Trust vs. Defensiveness, Activity vs. Lack of Energy, and Emotional Stability vs. Neuroticism were significantly associated with effectiveness in both the validation and cross-validation subsamples. Such findings suggest that these variables, particularly those related to affiliation and enjoyment of physical activities, should be considered as ossible selection indicators for recruits who are overweight or cannot pass the physical requirements for recruit training.

The impact of paraprofessional alcoholism counselor training.

The present study evaluated the impact of a Navy alcoholism counselor training program. Forty-five trainees were tested before and after an intense 10-week training period at the Naval Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in San Diego. A pilot study enabled methodology refinement and selection of instruments most discriminating change over training. Based on pilot data, 12 measures were utilized: nine personality scales from a short form MMPI (Mini-Mult) and the Comrey Personality Scale, an alcoholism knowledge and attitude test, and a counseling skills effectiveness measure. Results indicate a significant positive change over training on several measures of alcoholism attitudes, knowledge. and counselor effectiveness. Significant differences were also noted on several personality scales indicating change toward the normal range. The findings suggest that the training appeared to have a significant positive impact on trainees. Some implications and limitations are discussed.

A Comparison of the Comrey Personality Scales Scores for Two Sub-Populations of Navy Personnel

A Comparison of the Comrey Personality Scales Scores for Two Sub-Populations of Navy Personnel

Construct Validation of Concepts of Actualizing Measured By the Personal Orientation Dimensions

This investigation was designed to replicate and extend the findings of an earlier study (Knapp and Comrey, 1973) in which scores from the Comrey Personality Scales (CPS), an instrument based on a factorially derived taxonomy of personality, were related to scores of the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) based on a logically developed instrument measuring concepts describing actualizing persons. The present study extends that analysis to the more recently published Personal Orientation Dimension (POD) (Shostrom, 1975), a refinement and clarification in measurement of concepts of actualizing. Present results support the findings of the earlier study and add further support to and clarification of the construct validity of these instruments.

A multimethod analysis of selected self-esteem measures

This study investigated the convergent and discriminant validity of selected measures of global self-esteem and social self-esteem, using the multitrait-multimethod design. Orderliness was included as the third trait for appraising the discriminant validity of the self-esteem measures. Each trait was measured by three different methods: true-false self-report inventory, multipoint self-report inventory, and simple self-ratings. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (short form) were the selected measures of global self-esteem. The revised Janis-Field Feelings of Inadequacy Scale and the Self-esteem scale of the Jackson Personality Inventory were included as measures of social self-esteem, while orderliness measures included the Order scales from the Personality Research Form and Comrey Personality Scales. Results from the multitrait-multimethod matrix and the multimethod factor analysis of data based on 93 males and 103 females provided strong evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the various trait measures.

PREDICTING NAVY EFFECTIVENESS: EXPECTATIONS, MOTIVATION, PERSONALITY, APTITUDE, AND BACKGROUND VARIABLES

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of performance within seven Navy occupational groups. Life history, expectations, motivation, personality, and aptitude variables were used as predictors of a 2‐year effectiveness criterion for 7,923 enlisted Navy men and women. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that the most powerful predictors included: years of schooling, school expulsions and suspensions, the two Comrey Personality Scales of Social Conformity and Orderliness, arrests, age, General Classification Test (aptitude), and Peer Cohesion (expectations). Comparisons across groups indicated that the development of separate equations for each occupation was not supported. Recommendations were made to improve selection procedures and to change several aspects of the organization, suggestions which would be expected to increase rates of effective performance.

Further Validation of the Social Conformity Scale of the Comrey Personality Scales

53 Asian students scored significantly higher than 53 non-Asian students on the Social Conformity vs Rebelliousness scale of a modified version of the Comrey Personality Scales. In a different sample, the same scale also correlated significantly with political preference for both males and females ( ns = 90 and 109, respectively).

Psychiatric screening with the Comrey personality scales.

In order to investigate further the utility of the Comrey Personality Scales for screening of psychiatric populations, scores on this multitrait paper-and-pencil personality inventory for 62 psychiatric outpatients and 76 inpatients were compared with those of normal adults. Chi square tests were made to determine whether the psychiatric patients exhibited significantly more extreme scores in either direction than would be expected in non-psychiatric populations, using a normal distribution of trait scores based on available normative data. Results showed that members of unclassified psychiatric populations are apt to have low scores on the Emotional Stability vs Neuroticism (S) scale, consistent with previous research. Significantly deviant scores on several other scales also were found. It is concluded that the Comrey Personality Scales may indeed be a useful supplement to other techniques for psychiatric screening.

Reliability and stability of the Comrey Personality Scales in a clinical setting.

Examined split-half reliabilities, retest reliabilities, and stability of the Comrey Personality Scales (CPS) (Comrey, 1970) for a Navy sample of 200 young drug abusers tested at the beginning and end of rehabilitation in a no-feedback, compulsory participation setting. The pre-rehabilitation split-half reliabilities for the eight personality scales ranged from .73 to .94, with an average of .85, and ranged from .74 to .91, with an average of .83, on the post-rehabilitation administration. Retest reliabilities for the eight scales were between .39 and .64, with an average of .52. Post-rehabilitation means were significantly higher on four of the eight scales, and one scale mean was significantly lower. It is concluded that the CPS is appropriate in a clinical setting in which test participation is compulsory and test feedback is not made available to the respondents.

Effects of participation in the Physical Conditioning Platoon.

Designed to assess the effects of Marine recruits' participation in the Physical Conditioning Platoon during 1975 (N - 635). Comparisons (t-values) of pre and post measures of an attitude questionnaire, the Comrey Personality Scales, and a self-evaluation scale indicated that significant increases in favorability of perceptions occurred during training for 12 of the 13 scales. During a stay of approximately 30 days, overweight recruits lost an average of 26 pounds. The most powerful predictors of graduation from PCP and recruit training included the Affiliation (with the Marine Corps) scale and a composite of 10 Activity Scale items. These two variables may be useful in selection of PCP participants by reducing the 36% PCP attrition rate.

Replication of the factor structure of the Comrey Personality Scales.

The factor structure of the Comrey Personality Scales was replicated using a sample of suburban Denver residents ( N = 377). Correlations are reported between the Comrey scales and age, socioeconomic status, sex, body type, a short locus of control scale, the Raven Progressive Matrices Test, and the Neuroticism and Extraversion scales from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Correlations with self-reported leisure time activities and nervous habits provide a partial validation of the Comrey Activity, Stability, and Extraversion scales.

A SEX COMPARISON OF FACTORS RELATED TO SUCCESS IN NAVAL HOSPITAL CORPS SCHOOL1

Background information, Comrey Personality Scale scores, and a standard Navy aptitude test score were obtained on 600 Navy enlisted men and 600 Navy enlisted women prior to beginning Naval Hospital Corps School training. A comparison of the men and women indicated that the sexes differed on a number of background and personality dimensions. A double‐split cross‐validation design with multiple regression was then employed in the development of a test battery for predicting school completion. Results indicated that the men were more predictable than the women with cross‐validities on the order of .53 for men and .41 for women. For the total sample, cross‐validities were approximately .47. An empirical comparison of the utility of these equations for screening candidates for paramedical training suggested that the use of separate equations with the sexes would not produce results which were substantially different from use of the single equation developed on both sexes combined.

Comparing personality traits of male and female dental students: a study of two freshman classes

The marked increase in women enrolled in dental school warrants a reassessment of dental student personality profiles. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to compare personality profiles of two first-year dental classes, (2) to compare male and female dental student profiles to their respective norm populations, and (3) to compare male and female dental student personality traits with each other. The Comrey Personality Scales were administered to two first-year dental classes at the University of California at Los Angeles. Between sex and within sex comparisons were made over ten inventory scales. Results indicated that the collective personality profiles of male and female dental students were markedly similar to each other for both classes. These results do not reflect the differences encountered between the sexes in the norm population. It was also noted that the "average" male dental student differed from the male norms on Orderliness versus Lack of Compulsion, Social Conformity versus Rebelliousness, and Emotional Stability versus Neuroticism. In addition, "average" female dental student differed from the female norms on Masculinity versus Femininity.

An Experimental Field Study

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Loye et al. was to examine television's positive and negative on adults. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental design was employed for this study. The study used 725 husband-and-wife couples who were found through cable television announcements. The research used a combination of matching and randomization to place the couples in five groups. Each group was controlled for income, age, liberal or conservative affiliation, and attitudes about violence versus nonviolence and competition versus cooperation. Because of cable access problems, the study was forced to reorganize previously randomized groups. Thus, the authors noted that the statistics cannot be generalized beyond their sample. Each group watched one of five types of programming: 51 watched prosocial helpful material, 45 watched violent material, 19 watched or light entertainment content, 25 watched a mixed content of prosocial and violent material, and 43 watched natural content or whatever material they chose. Psychiatrists, psychologists, parents, and other groups assessed the material to be hurtful or helpful. Each husband watched the programs at home, and each wife observed and recorded his daily behavior. The men were between the ages of 20 and 70. The men watched television for seven consecutive nights between 7 pm to 11 pm. They were assigned to view approximately 20 hours of television. The research assessed various responses of the whole person. The study assessed mood with a variant of the Nowlis mood checklist. It assessed ideation with a new measure designed by researcher Loye for this study. It assessed fantasy with the Barron Ink Blots, a series of 25 cards of ink blots which identify people as high or low in fantasizing abilities. The study divided into plus imagery (happy folk dancers was the example given) and minus imagery (two warriors fighting was the example given). Attitudes were assessed with a measure designed by researchers Gorney and Steele for this study. This attitude instrument contained Likert scales measuring six attitudes constellations: cooperation versus competition , violence-accepting versus violence-abhorring, racial equality versus inequality, sexual equality versus inequality, personal rights versus property rights, and psychosocial attainment versus material aggrandizement. The research measured values with the Rokeach Value Survey. This instrument measured change on 18 means values and 18 ends values. Personality was measured with the Comrey Personality Scale. The study assessed demographic and media use with questionnaire designed for this study. Behavior was measured with the spouse observer method using sociology's participant-observer approach and psychology's critical incident measurement techniques. Wives recorded their husband's daily helpful and behavior. Each television viewer in the study had to watch 14 to 23 programs out of a total of 149 programs. Before and after watching the participant completed either a mood checklist or a ideation report. The study examined changes in the mood reports on Monday evening and Sunday's last mood report. These changes were analyzed using analysis of covariance. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The study hypothesized that television drama has measurable psychosocial effects (p.206), both positive and negative, and the are related to the content of the drama. The study found differences among the groups of viewers. The mood changes in the violence group showed an increase in aggressive moods. In the prosocial group, there was a decrease in aggressive moods. Using analysis of covariance, these changes were found to be statistically significant. The other groups had insignificant declines in aggressive moods. Significant declines were found in anxiety for the neutral and mixed groups. The prosocial and violent groups had no significant changes in anxiety. Overall positive moods declined. Contrary to other studies, it was found that for prosocial viewers aggressive moods declined as emotional arousal increased. It was argued that popular belief states that violence emotionally arouses viewers and thus entertains them. However this study found the opposite using ideation results for prosocial and violence groups. The prosocial group had marginally higher entertainment (p AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors noted that the fantasy measurement was used before and after the week of viewing while the behavior measure was used daily. They recommended that further research is needed because of this inconsistency. They suggested that several of their findings invite replication. The study posited that these findings are important to government and industry policy. It was argued that they need to recognize and utilize measurements of a whole person response to television. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) Media Violence Effects Television Viewing Television Violence Prosocial Television Program-Film Content Adult Male Adult Female Adult Aggression Aggression Causes Male Aggression Female Aggression 10-99