Description

The Thurstone Temperament Schedule (TTS) is a psychometric instrument developed by Louis Leon Thurstone in 1930. It was designed to measure various aspects of temperament, which is considered a key factor in shaping human behavior and personality. Thurstone’s model of temperament consists of several independent dimensions or traits, such as emotional stability, sociability, dominance, and impulsivity. The Thurstone Temperament Schedule is composed of a series of statements or questions, where respondents are required to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement, enabling researchers to evaluate their temperament profiles based on predefined traits.

Analysis and Data Use

The data derived from the Thurstone Temperament Schedule is typically used in psychological research to understand how different personality traits correlate with behaviors, life outcomes, or mental health. Analysis of TTS data involves several statistical techniques, most commonly factor analysis, given the instrument’s multi-dimensional nature. This method allows for the identification of the core temperament traits measured by the test.

Factor Analysis: A key technique to identify underlying factors or dimensions of temperament.

Descriptive Statistics: Used to summarize the overall scores and provide insights into average temperament scores within a population.

Inferential Statistics: Employed to assess relationships between temperament traits and external variables like career choices, academic performance, or mental health conditions.

The Thurstone Temperament Schedule can be used in multiple settings:

Clinical Psychology: To assess individual personality traits and support mental health diagnostics.

Occupational Psychology: In the hiring process, it helps in predicting job performance or compatibility.

Educational Psychology: To study the relationship between temperament and academic performance or learning styles.

Calibration

Calibration of the Thurstone Temperament Schedule involves validating its items and ensuring that it measures the intended traits reliably across different populations. This process typically includes:

Validity Testing: Ensuring the test measures what it claims to measure (construct validity). This may involve comparing the TTS results with other validated personality or temperament measures.

Reliability Testing: Ensuring that the test produces consistent results over time (test-retest reliability) and across different items (internal consistency).

Norm Development: Establishing norms or average scores based on large samples from various demographic groups, which allow for meaningful comparisons of individual results.

Calibration also involves adjusting the test for cultural and linguistic differences to ensure that it is applicable and fair when used in different regions or among different demographic groups.

Bibliography

Here are some key sources on the Thurstone Temperament Schedule and related topics in psychometrics and temperament measurement:

Thurstone, L. L. (1930). The Measurement of Attitude. University of Chicago Press.

A foundational text by Thurstone on his approach to psychometrics, including the development of tests like the TTS.

Thurstone, L. L. (1947). Multiple-Factor Analysis: A Development and Expansion of the Vectors of Mind. University of Chicago Press.

This work explains Thurstone’s multiple-factor analysis, a technique used to analyze data from instruments like the TTS.

Furnham, A. (2008). Personality and Intelligence at Work: Exploring and Explaining Individual Differences on and off the Job. Routledge.

A comprehensive look at the role of personality and temperament in the workplace, drawing on instruments like the TTS.

Eysenck, H. J. (1967). The Biological Basis of Personality. Thomas.

A book on temperament and personality from the perspective of Hans Eysenck, which contrasts with Thurstone’s approach but offers important context.

Kline, P. (2000). A Psychometrics Primer. Free Association Books.

An accessible introduction to psychometric testing, including tests like the Thurstone Temperament Schedule.