To predict some of the people some of the time: A reexamination of the moderator variable approach in personality theory.

Abstract

Bern and Allen (1974) proposed but did not test the notion that trait relevance moderates crosssituational behavior consistency, but did obtain support, albeit weaker than is generally recognized, for a moderator effect of self-reported consistency. Kenrick and Stringfield (1980) showed that selfreported observability of behavior may also moderate self-peer consistency, but replication attempts were not entirely successful. Our investigation produced significant moderator effects on self-peer correlations for trait relevance, consistency, and observability when each of these variables was analyzed alone; we also obtained significant moderator effects for trait relevance and self-reported consistency (but not for observability) when all the variables were included in the same regression analysis. There was significant support for the prediction that the moderators combine additively: Selfpeer correlations increased linearly as a function of the number of contributing moderator effects.There was even stronger support for the prediction that the moderators combined in an all-or-nothing manner Self-peer correlations were high when the level of all three moderators was high, and low when the level of one or more of the three moderators was low. Our future research recommendation?Identify the optimal moderators and the manner in which they can be combined.

Riding a wave of self-esteem: Perseverative tendencies as dispositional forces

“…The initial promise of this view was quelled by failures to replicate original Wndings (Mischel & Peake, 1983) as well as methodological criticisms (Tellegen, 1988). Although more recent work has revealed that there are signiWcant moderators of trait-related consistency, such moderation eVects are somewhat small in magnitude (Zuckerman et al, 1988). Perhaps more important, it is desirable to specify, from a process-oriented point of view, what makes individuals more versus less traited (Tellegen, 1988).…”

The Next Generation of Moderator Research in Personality Psychology

“…The reliable detection of effects of this size requires powerful experimental designs (Zuckerman et al, 1988). Indeed, with 112 subjects (at the .05 level of significance) the probability that I would be able to detect moderator effects of this size is about .15.…”

“…Zuckerman et al (1988) reverted to a subgroups analysis when they combined the moderator variables they studied into higher order (i.e., three-and four-way) interactions, and Zuckerman et al (1989) rely completely on the comparison of subgroups. Finally, Baumeister and Tice's (1988) evaluation of metatraits was based on a comparison of the correlations between subgroups that were defined by median splits on the moderator variables.…”

Parenting and Adolescents' Accuracy in Perceiving Parental Values

“…To perceive a person (target) accurately, a perceiver (judge) must detect and correctly use available, relevant information (Funder, 1995). Many influences on accuracy operate through their effects on the availability of relevant information or on its detection (Kenny, 1994;Zuckerman et al, 1988). Detection depends, among other things, on the judge's attention to information and on the degree to which that information is understandable (Funder, 1995).…”