Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Personality Research

A central challenge in personality research is selecting research methods that are congruent with one's theoretical aims and eventual empirical claims. Three considerations can guide this selection. Pretheoretical considerations constrain the conclusions that the personality researcher may draw from data. Theoretical positions in personality psychology contain assumptions about the types that are necessary to assess personality structure, dispositions, person-situation interactions, and inter-individual differences. Finally, pragmatic concerns may guide choices made from among alternative data-collection tools.