Contemporary psychology, Vol. 8 No. 2, 2005.
Original scientific paper
Latent states and traits: On a generalization of the classical test theory
Alija Kulenović
Vesna Buško
Abstract
The paper examines the degree to which variations in personality measures are due to stable individual dispositions, occasion-related factors and random measurement errors. Based on the assumptions of the latent state-trait theory, we specified several structural equation models which in non-experimental, correlational studies allow for estimates of situation-specific variance in the measures of more or less stable psychological attributes. States and traits are defined as latent variables and included simultaneously in each of the specified models. The procedures of testing and comparisons of the selected latent state-trait models were demonstrated using empirical data from the study on adjustment of recruits during basic military training. In this paper we used the scores on trait neuroticism and state anxiety scales obtained in a sample of 416 male examinees on two occasions five weeks apart. Parameter estimates and the related coefficients of consistency, occasion specificity and reliability of the best fitting models clearly showed that dispositional as well as situational and/or interaction factors can account for substantial portions of variance of both scales. The relative importance of these factors varied, however, with the point of measurement and the constructs intentionally measured by the scales used.
Keywords
classical test theory; latent state-trait theory; structural equation models; dispositional and situational effects
Hrčak ID:
3258
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2005.
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