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Kinesthetic Aftereffect: Can This Simple Tactual Task Really Predict Personality Attributes?

Author(s):
Baker, A. Harvey; Mishara, Brian L.; Kostin, Irene W.; Parker, Laurence
Publication Year:
1975
Report Number:
RB-75-11
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
40
Subject/Key Words:
Kinesthetic Perception, Literature Reviews, Perception Tests, Personality Assessment, Test Reliability, Test Validity

Abstract

Kinesthetic Aftereffect (KAE), once a promising personality index, has been abandoned by many investigators because of poor retest reliability and intermittent validity. In challenging this current consensus, we argue: first session KAE is valid; poor retest reliability simply reflects later-session bias; hence, multi-session studies should not be used to assess validity without taking this bias into account. Those recent studies which failed to support KAE validity were each multi-session in design. If our bias contention is correct, these studies should be ignored and the claim of intermittent validity is thus rebutted. Reanalysis of the most recent major multi-session, nonsupportive validity study (Weintraub, Green, & Herzog, 1973) indicates: Session 1 validity; later-session bias; and later-session validity when multi-session scores are combined to avoid bias. Yes, KAE validly measures personality. (40pp.)

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