Personality Traits | The NKI Rockland Sample

Adult Self-Report

The ASR is a 126-item self-report questionnaire for adults (ages 18–59) assessing aspects of adaptive functioning and problems. The questionnaire provides scores for the following syndrome scales: anxious/depressed, withdrawn, somatic complaints, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior, rule-breaking behavior, and intrusive behavior. The questionnaire provides scores for the following DSM-oriented scales: depressive problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, avoidant personality problems, attention deficit/ hyperactivity problems (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscales), and antisocial personality problems. Additionally, the questionnaire asks about use of the following substances: tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Items are rated on a 3-point scale: 0-Not True, 1-Somewhat or Sometimes True, 2-Very True or Often True.

Note: The ASR is given to adult participants ages 18-59 years old.

References: Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2003). Manual for the ASEBA adult forms & profiles. Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.

Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ)

The ATQ short form is a 77-item self-report questionnaire for adults (ages 18 and over) assessing constructs of temperament and personality. The measure includes constructs of effortful control, negative affect, extraversion/surgency, and orienting sensitivity. Participants are asked to rate how well the items describe them on a 7-point scale: 1-extremely untrue, 2-quite untrue, 3-slightly true, 4-neither true or false, 5-slightly true, 6-quite true, 7-extremely true.

Note: This self-assessment is given to participants ages 16-85 years old.

References: Evans, D.E., & Rothbart, M.K. (2007). Development of a model for adult temperament. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 868-888.

Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd Edition –Parent Rating Scale, 12-17 years old, (BASC – 2 (12–17))

The BASC – 2 (12-17) is a 150-item informant-report questionnaire assessing the adaptive and problem behaviors of adolescents (ages 12 – 17) in the community and home setting. It provides scores for the following scales: anger control, bullying, developmental social disorders, emotional self-control, executive functioning, negative emotionality, and resiliency. Informants report on the adolescent’s behavior in the last several months using a 4- point scale: 0-never, 1-sometimes, 2-often, 3-almost always.

Note: This self-assessment is given to guardians of adolescent participants ages 12-17 years old.

References: Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). BASC: Behavior assessment system for children: Manual. American Guidance Service, Incorporated.

The Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (Very Short Form) – (CBQ-VSF)

The CBQ-VSF is a 36-item informant-report questionnaire assessing temperament of children (ages 3 – 8). The questionnaire is designed to capture three broad dimensions: surgency/extraversion, negative affectivity, and effortful control. Informants are asked to rate their child based on how they feel that their child’s reaction is likely to be in a variety of situations. Responses are given on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (extremely untrue of my child) to 7 (extremely true of my child). The questionnaire is designed to capture three broad dimensions: surgency/extraversion, negative affectivity, and effortful control. Participants are asked to rate how well the items describe their child on a 7-point scale: 1-extremely untrue of my child, 2-quite untrue, 3- slightly untrue, 4-neither true nor untrue, 5-slightly true, 6-quite true, 7-extremely true of my child.

Note: This assessment is given to guardians of child participants, ages 6-8 years old.

References: Putnam, S. P., & Rothbart, M. K. (2006). Development of short and very short forms of the children’s behavior questionnaire. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87(1), 102-112.

The Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire (Revised) Parent Report (EATQ-R)

The EATQ-R (Parent Report) is a 62-item assessment of temperament and behavior in children and adolescents (ages 9 to 15 years old). The following scales are included: activation control, affiliation, attention, fear, frustration, high-intensity pleasure, inhibitory control, shyness, and aggression and depressive mood. Parents are asked to rate how true the characteristics and behaviors are of their child on a 5-point scale: 1-Almost always untrue, 2-Usually untrue, 3-Sometimes true, sometimes untrue, 4-Usually true, 5-Almost always true.

Note: This self-assessment is administered to the guardian of child participants ages 9-15 years old.

References: Ellis, L. K., & Rothbart, M. K. (2001, April). Revision of the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.

Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits – Parent Version (ICUP)

The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) is a 24-item questionnaire designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of callous and unemotional traits. These traits have proven to be important for designating a distinct subgroup group of antisocial and aggressive youth.

The ICU has three subscales: Callousness, Uncaring, and Unemotional. Parents are asked to rate statements about their child’s behavior on a 4-point scale: 0-Not true at all, 1-Somewhat true, 2-Very true, 3-Definitely true.

Note: This assessment is given to guardians of child participants aged 6-17 years old.

References: Essau, C.A., Sasagawa, S., & Frick, P.J. (2006). Callous-unemotional traits in a community sample of adolescents. Assessment, 13, 454-469.

Fanti, K.A. Frick, P.J., & Georgiou, S. (2009). Linking callous-unemotional traits to instrumental and non-instrumental forms of aggression. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 31,285-298.

Kimonis, E.R., Frick, P.J., Skeem, J., Marsee, M.A., Cruise, K., Munoz, L.C. Aucoin, K.J. & Morris, A.S. (2008). Assessing callous-unemotional traits in adolescent offenders: Validation of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits. Journal of the International Association of Psychiatry and Law, 31, 241-251.

Roose, A., Bijttbier, P., Decoene, S., Claes, L., & Frick, P.J. (2010). Assessing the affective features of psychopathy in adolescence: A further validation of the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits. Assessment, 17, 44-57.

Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits – Youth Self-Report (ICUY)

The ICU has three subscales: Callousness, Uncaring, and Unemotional. Adolescent participants are asked to indicate how well each statement describes them on a 4-point scale: 0-Not true at all, 1-Somewhat true, 2-Very true, 3-Definitely true.

Note: This assessment is given to child participants, ages 13-17 years old.

References: Essau, C.A., Sasagawa, S., & Frick, P.J. (2006). Callous-unemotional traits in a community sample of adolescents. Assessment, 13, 454-469.

Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)

The IRI is a 28-item self- report, and is a well-validated multidimensional measure of empathic ability. Each item includes a statement about thoughts and feelings in a variety of situations, and participants are asked to indicate how well each statement describes them on a 5-point scale: 0-Does not describe me well to 4-Describes me very well.

Note: This assessment is given to participants ages 13-85 years old.

References: Davis, M. H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 113-126.

Mark H. Davis, 1980. A multidimensional approach to individual difference in empathy. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 85.

NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-3)

The NEO-FFI-3 is a 60-item psychological personality inventory that assesses based on the five-factor model: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Participants are asked to select the response that best represents their opinion on a 5-point scale: 0-Strongly Agree, 1-Agree, 2-Neutral, 3-Disagree, 4-Strongly Disagree.

Note: This assessment is given to participants ages 12-85 years old.

References: Mccrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T. (February 2004). “A contemplated revision of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory”. Personality and Individual Differences 36(3), 587–596.

Youth Self-Report (YSR)

The YSR is a 112-item self-report designed for children and adolescents (ages 11-17), that assesses behavioral competency and behavioral problems and parallels the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Behaviors are rated on a 3-point scale: 0-Not true, 1-Somewhat or sometimes true and 2-Very true or often true, based on the preceding 6-months. The questionnaire provides scores for the following syndrome scales: anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complains, social problems, thought problems, rule-breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior. The questionnaire provides scores for the following DSM-oriented scales: affective problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems. There are 20 social competency items that measure the child’s participation in hobbies, games, sports, jobs, chores, friendship, and activities.

Note: This self-assessment is given to all child participants, ages 11-17. The 20 social competency items are not included.

References: Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.