La función del marco y la sublimación de la lógica

Both methods used to analyse the mean ethnic differences observed in the present study indicated that the differences on each personality trait were generally inconsistent with the conceptually related traits measured by the alternative inventory. From the variable by variable analysis on all the 12 traits and scales analysed in the present study. Only Ascendency-Extraversion and Original Thinking-Extraversion differences among ethnic groups had some degrees of consistency across the EPQ-R and the GPP-I, while Cautiousness showed a consistent pattern of invariance among ethnic groups across the two inventories. In addition, this lack of consistency between the EPQ-R and the GPP-I appears to also be constant when comparing the observed differences among ethnic groups to Packman et al.’s (2005) research findings, as only the Responsibility, Emotional Stability, Original Thinking, and Cautiousness trait differences appear to show some consistency with conceptually related traits measured by Packman et al.

The general lack of consistency between the two inventories and with past research, again using an alternative personality inventory, indicate some cause for concern for research examining the differences among ethnic groups on personality traits. The inconsistency suggests that any differences observed on personality traits among ethnic groups are likely to be specific to that personality inventory providing the measure of the trait. Further, because the nature of the two inventories used in the present study are based on different models of personality this indicates that the differences observed among ethnic groups are model dependent. In further support of this notion is the inconsistency with both personality inventories compared to the

other study investigating ethnic differences in New Zealand (i.e. Packman et al. 2005) using the 15FQ+, again based on another different personality model i.e. FFM.

The design of the present study does not allow us to determine the reason behind the lack of consistency between the two inventories based on the different models of personality. However, we may speculate as to the underlying reason for this difference. One explanation for the inconsistency is the phenomenon of measure- specific variance. This notion suggests that the reason for the lack of consistency among inventories on demographic differences is because personality scales that aim to measure a given trait, even when correlations are corrected for unreliability, average well below 1.00 (i.e. 100%). Consequently, this results in different measures of the similar personality traits not assessing the exact same definition of a given trait.

To further explain this issue One & Anderson (2005) suggest that personality measures can be conceptualised as arising from common factor variance and unique factor variance. This conceptualisation proposes that common factor variance differences are representative of the shared variance between personality measures, while unique factor variance is representative of the unshared variance between personality measures.

If we put this in the context of the present findings this suggests that the personality differences among the New Zealand ethnic groups are predominantly due to the presence of unique factor variance. We would expect some degree of unique variance present when comparing group differences across different personality inventories and personality models. Although it can be argued that, if these behavioral differences among ethnic groups are real, we would expect some level of similarity when comparing personality difference on conceptually similar traits across any two personality inventories based on different models.

This notion is a cause for concern in the present study, as this suggests that the results are predominantly due to the unique factor variance of the inventories, meaning that the differences that are observed are not real and therefore not valid. In other words, if this interpretation of the results is correct then according to the theory of measurement

study are not a result of real differences but rather a result of artefacts created by the personality measures. Such possibilities are of major concern for the realm of personality assessment as it is important for the practice of any assessment procedure to distinguish between adverse consequences of an assessment that stem from valid descriptions to adverse consequences of an assessment that stem from invalid descriptions of individuals and groups (Messick, 1996). These observations are a concern for the personality traits of Personal Relations and Vigor measured by the GPP-I in the present study, as it is possible that such differences are not real differences among ethnic groups and thus not reflective of real behavioural tendencies.

From the present research findings, whether the underlying reason behind the lack of consistency between the two inventories in the present study is true or not is not clear. However, what does appear to be indicative of the present findings is that differences between and among ethnic groups are specific to the personality inventory and personality model they are observed on. Noted in section 2.1.2 such findings are a concern, as this suggests that the majority of the research findings analysing this issue that have used the FFM of personality (e.g. Goldberg et al. 1998; Heuchert et a. 2000; McCrae, 2001, 2002; McCrae & Terraciano, 2005; Ones & Anderson, 1998; Ones & Viswersan, 1998; Packman et al. 2005; Schmidt et al. 2007; Schmitt et al. 2008) may not be conceptually generalised to different personality models and inventories based from these research findings.

7.4. The Two Alternative Ways that Ethnicity could be Associated

with Personality

In addition to investigating the direct impact of ethnicity on personality traits, the present study also aimed to analyse the two alternative ways ethnicity may influence personality. Firstly, the variance of personality traits among New Zealand ethnic groups was explored. Secondly, the impact of ethnicity on the relationship of age and gender on personality traits was analysed.