Issue 4
Vol. 43
2001

M. Amelang, J. Müller
Analysis of reaction times in responding to adjective items

The study deals with the processes underlying the responses to the items of personality questionnaires. Theoretically, shorter reaction times were expected when the subjects were instructed to describe their actual states in comparison with the instruction to describe their traits. The sample of subjects consisted of N = 84 male and female persons. The subjects responded not only to the items, but they also rated the social desirability, breadth and active/passive connotations, as well as whether the items better described states or traits. These ratings were analyzed separately on the individual and aggregated (group) level. Results showed strong differences between the subjects regarding the strategies of responding. The hypotheses deduced from the theoretical model were only partly confirmed.

Key words: reaction times, processes, State-Trait-Distinction

Prof. Dr. Manfred Amelang
Psychologisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg
Hauptstraße 47-51
D-69117 Heidelberg

Dipl.-Psych. Jörg Müller
Psychologisches Institut der Universität Tübingen
Friedrichstr. 21
D-72072 Tübingen