TEORIJSKI I METODOLOŠKI PROBLEMI PRI ISTRAŽIVANJU KONTINUITETA I PROMJENA LIČNOSTI
THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH OF PERSONALITY CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the main issues in the research of personality continuity and change. This kind of research is confronted with several theoretical, methodological, and practical problems. Theoretical problems include definitions of concepts, both of personality continuity and change. It is very useful to distinguish six different types of continuity (Caspi & Bem, 1990): absolute, differential, ipsative, structural and coherent. Methodological problems in the research of personality continuity and change are analyzed. The most important methodological problems are caused by linear relationships of the main variables of the general developmental model – age, cohort, and time of measurement. Although several developmental designs are available, there is no design which allows certain conclusions about age, cohort or measurement point effects. Some effects are always confounded. Finally, statistical alternatives for the measuring of personality change are presented and analyzed. Measurement of change is of great theoretical importance, because it is essential for the research of etiology of personality continuity and change.

• Details
• Contents