Personality research is exactly what it sounds like: the study of an individual's personality. The "research" aspect can include anything from creating an intricate, detailed outline of someone's psychological make-up to discovering what generally makes each person the same as the rest of the population (or, in certain cases, different). The question that plays an enormous role in every branch of personality research, however, is why. Why does this specific personality factor appear in so many people? Or, Why does it statistically appear in those who descend from a certain lineage? Each personality-related question answered is another step towards giving more precise explanations, and therefore better help, to those who need or want the aid, such as advertisement companies that wish to create the most effective television commercials possible, or the woman who wonders whether her tendency to pace under stress is somehow ingrained in her personality.
Personality research is going to impact our group project in the sense that we are going to encounter many different personality types during our attempts to make Rowan University a more bird-friendly campus, and not all of those personality types will be compatible with or accepting of our desires and goals. There's not much we can do to change the minds of those who disagree with us other than attempt to politely convince them to see the situation through our eyes; this convincing can be done through flyers, pamphlets, banners and the like, or through face-to-face conversations. Considering the fact that the Rowan University Wildlife Conservation Society is going to be coming into contact with members of the university's administration, we need to be as respectful as possible, even when we're attempting to convince people, so as to not make any enemies. We may need the aid of these men and women in the future. That's most likely the biggest issue we are going to have in our attempt to improve the campus's environment: dealing with differing opinions.
ü Articles on Personality Research ü
- Pike, Gary R. "Students' Personality Types, Intended Majors, and College Expectations: Further Evidence concerning Psychological and Sociological Interpretations of Holland's Theory." Research in Higher Education 47.7 (2006): 801-822. Springer. Web. 10 Dec. 2011.
Article Summary: In his article, "Students' Personality Types, Intended Majors, and College Expectations: Further Evidence Concerning Psychological and Sociological Interpretations of Holland's Theory", Gary Pike argues that Holland's theory, which is comprised of six, general personality types of which person can be considered, the person's environments, and the interactions between the person and his or her environment, needs to be enlarged to include sociological factors as well as psychological factors. Pike states that the average college student's personality type (psychological factor) and the characteristics of his or her chosen major (sociological factor) are directly linked to the student's expectations about college. Furthermore, these expectations about what college is going to be like are what subconsciously propel the student to choose his or her major in the first place.
- Cervone, Daniel, and Yuichi Shoda. "Beyond Traits in the Study of Personality Coherence." Current Directions in Psychological Science 8.1 (1999): 27-32. Sage Publications, Inc. Web. 10 Dec. 2011.
- Robie, Chet, Douglas J. Brown, and James C. Beaty. "Do People Fake on Personality Inventories? A Verbal Protocol Analysis." Journal of Business and Psychology 21.4 (2007): 489-509. Springer. Web. 10 Dec. 2011.
ü Additional Information ü
A website which lists personality tests, research papers, references, and researchers.
An Internet article found on About.com on The Big Five Personality Dimensions.
The website of the Association for Research in Personality (ARP):
"ARP is a scientific organization, founded in 2001, devoted to bringing together the diversity of scholars whose research contributes to the understanding of personality processes, structure, and development."
The website of the True Colors Personality Test Assessment:
"The True Colors Test is a personality survey designed to can help you understand your personality and behavioral type, as well as those of others."
A website which lists free, online personality tests and quizzes.
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