Self-Report Marker Measure

Abstract

The Self-Report Marker Measure, developed by Richard E. Schutz and Robert J. Foster in 1963, is a brief, 12-item instrument designed to quantify an individual’s self-concept through the assessment of self-perceived personality traits. This instrument utilizes a forced-choice measure format where subjects select the adjective or phrase from a pair that best describes them. The measure was administered verbally by an experimenter, with respondents marking their answers (A or B) on dedicated answer sheets. It originated as a methodological tool to study response sets in psychological testing.

Keywords

Personality Traits, Self-Report Marker Measure, Self-Concept, Test Development, Forced-Choice, Psychological Measurement, Response Set.

Authors

Schutz, Richard E.; Foster, Robert J.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Self-Report Marker Measure is to assess an individual’s self-perceived personality traits. Developed during a period focused on methodological rigor in psychometrics, the scale was particularly relevant in research exploring the impact of various response styles on measurement outcomes, such as acquiescence and extremity.

By using a forced-choice measure format, the authors aimed to mitigate certain biases inherent in traditional rating scales, compelling the respondent to make a definitive selection between two contrasting descriptors of the self.

Construct

The central construct measured by the scale is Self-Concept, specifically focusing on how individuals view their own behavioral tendencies and personality characteristics. The items cover a range of dimensions related to social interaction (e.g., friendly vs. argumentative), work orientation (e.g., studious vs. less studious), and dispositional outlook (e.g., optimistic vs. less optimistic).

The measure requires the subject’s immediate subjective assessment of their personality relative to the presented bipolar adjectives, providing insight into their self-perception structure.

Validity

Specific details regarding the validity of the Self-Report Marker Measure were not explicitly indicated in the primary reference documentation provided. Given its origin as a tool within a broader study on response sets, the focus of the original research was primarily methodological, rather than establishing comprehensive psychometric validation against external criteria or existing scales.

Researchers intending to use this instrument should conduct independent validation studies, including analyses of construct validity and concurrent validity, to ensure its appropriateness for modern applications.

Reliability

No specific reliability coefficients (such as internal consistency or test-retest reliability) were indicated for the Self-Report Marker Measure in the initial report. The absence of reliability data suggests that subsequent researchers must establish the measure’s consistency before drawing definitive conclusions from its scores.

Factor Analysis

The available source content does not indicate that a specific factor analysis was performed solely on the 12 items of the Self-Report Marker Measure to determine underlying latent factors. However, the study from which the measure originated—Schutz & Foster (1963)—was titled “A factor analytic study of acquiescent and extreme response set.” This context implies the items were utilized in a factor analytic framework designed to understand how response styles relate to personality item structure, rather than solely determining the structure of the self-concept construct.

Instrument

Test Type: Original

Format: Forced-choice measure; respondents mark either A or B on answer sheets.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adolescence (13-17 years); Adulthood (18 years & older)

Population Details: Sample: University Students; Age Range: 17–19 years

Test Methodology: Paper-based administration where the experimenter verbally presents the adjective pairs and subjects record their selection (A or B) on a separate answer sheet. The measure consists of 12 items.

Keywords

Personality Measures, Self-Report, Test Construction, Acquiescent Response Set, Psychological Testing, Personality Traits.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not available.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not available.

Correspondence Address: Information not available.

The authors’ primary affiliations at the time of publication were: Richard E. Schutz (Arizona State University) and Robert J. Foster (George Washington University).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Self-Report Marker Measure was published in 1963. The instrument is classified as non-commercial, and there is no fee associated with its use, suggesting it is available for academic and research purposes without proprietary restrictions. Test items are available.

Reference’s

The primary reference detailing the development and use of the scale is:

• Schutz, R. E., & Foster, R. J. (1963). A factor analytic study of acquiescent and extreme response set. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 23(3), 435–447.

Items of the Self-Report Marker Measure

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Subjects were asked to choose which of two adjective phrases best describe them. The forced-choices were read by the experimenter, and subjects marked A or B on answer sheets.

5. Friendly vs. ambitious
6. Critical vs. easy going
7. Need to be around people vs. enjoy being alone frequently
8. Accurate vs. careless
9. Less optimistic than average vs. more optimistic than average
10. Like to work with people vs. like to work with things
11. Likable and agreeable vs. argumentative and firm
12. Helpful vs. independent
13. Go-getter vs. easy going
14. More studious than average vs. less studious than average
15. Talkative vs. silent
16. Independent vs. social