Original scientific paper
What is behind the concept of self-monitoring? Another way of analysing Snyder's construct
Renata Velić
Željka Kamenov
Ognjen Simić
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine whether self-monitoring exists as a realistic individual difference and whether the Self-monitoring Scale measures this unique personality dimension. We tried to establish is it possible, on the basis of prototypic descriptions of high and low self-monitors, to estimate the correct level of self-monitoring of people we know. The research was carried out on 102 students of 3 rd and 4 th year of psychology at the University of Zagreb. Subjects were first asked to estimate to what extent the prototypic description of high and low self-monitors accurately describes themselves and each of their colleagues. Two months later Self-Monitoring Scale of 25 items was administered. Significant but moderate positive correlation between estimated levels of self-monitoring and the results on SMS was found. Since we confirmed the presence of two uncorrelated factors of SMS, the connection between score on each subscale and the estimated level of self-monitoring was examined. The score on the Public Performing subscale was significantly correlated with all the relevant variables (estimated level of self-monitoring, result on SMS and the difference between these measures), while Other-Directedness subscale reamined uncorrelated with mentioned variables. Findings suggest that further total scoring of SMS is unacceptable because the conceptually logical and empirically usefull differences between individuals are that way ignored.
Keywords
Self-moitoring; self-presentation; social perception
Hrčak ID:
3198
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2000.
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