Personality research methods: An historical perspective

Abstract

Abstract An historical perspective upon personality research methods is presented and scholarly resources are reviewed to encourage historical perspective‐taking among personality psychologists The historical perspective demarcates five periods in the development of personality research methods (1) the pre‐identity era, (2) the pre‐World War II era, (3) the post‐World War II era, (4) the contemporary era, and (5) within the contemporary era, the current situation FOT a set of basic research methods in personality, three types of development are identified Laboratory methods, observer judgments, personality scales and inventories, and projective techniques illustrate continued development, biographical/archival methods and field studies illustrate interrupted methods, and reputational analysis by use of naturalistic observational assessment illustrates arrested development The methodological pluralism evident in the history of personality research and inherent in its scientific agenda has not been fully realized, although current trends are encouraging Recommendations for promoting integrative methodological pluralism are made regarding research planning, institutional arrangements, and graduate research training programs

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