THE MILLENNIUM FOR PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY - NEW HORIZONS OR GOOD OLD DAZE

Research on three issues important to psychologists in applied setting s is reviewed: taxonomies, intentional distortion, and measurement mod e. Construct-oriented research has enabled the field to make significa nt advances. Nonetheless, the five-factor model is criticised because it confounds constructs. is method-bound, and is not comprehensive. A comparison of meta-analytic research summarising the criterion-related validity of personality constructs of different taxonomic models reve als that the Five Factor Model obscures important predictor-criterion relationships. Achievement, for example, a construct that is confounde d with other constructs in the Five Factor Model, shows a pattern of r elationships with criteria that differs from Extroversion or Conscient iousness-the two constructs in the Five Factor Model with which Achiev ement is often confounded. In short, taxonomic structure affects resea rch conclusions. The research on intentional distortion is also review ed. People can distort their responses to self-report inventories: job applicants do not distort their responses as much as people in direct faking studies. and criterion-related validity of moderately distorte d self-descriptions appears about the same as for honest self-descript ions. Measurement strategies that do not rely on self-report are discu ssed as alternative measurement strategies.