Response styles and personality traits : a multilevel analysis

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Authors

He, Jia
Bartram, Dave
Inceoglu, Ilke
Van de Vijver, Fons J.R.

Journal Title

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Publisher

Sage

Abstract

In two studies, we examined the shared and unique meaning of acquiescent, extreme, midpoint, and socially desirable responding in association with the OPQ32, a forced-choice format personality measure designed to be less affected by these response styles, compared to personality inventories with Likert scales. Country-level response style indexes were derived from six waves of the International Social Survey Programme and from a meta-analysis of a social desirability scale. In the country-level correlational analysis the four response styles formed a general response style factor which was positively associated with (1) dominance (vs. submission) in interpersonal relationships, (2) competitive (vs. modest and democratic) feelings and emotions, and (3) data rational thinking. In a multilevel analysis, age showed a positive and education a negative effect on the individual-level general response style. Negative effects of country-level socioeconomic development and individualism and positive effects of competitiveness and data rational thinking on the individual-level response style were found. We conclude that country-level response styles are systematically associated with country personality measured by the OPQ32, suggesting that they can be viewed as having substantive meaning (i.e., culturally influenced response amplification versus moderation). Implications are discussed.

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Keywords

Response styles, Acquiescence, Extremity, Midpoint responding, Social desirability, OPQ32, Big five personality

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Citation

He, J, Bartram, D, Inceoglu, I & Van de Vijver, FJR 2014, 'Response styles and personality traits : a multilevel analysis', Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 45, no. 7, pp. 1028-1045.