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Onderzoek naar erfelijkheid van conservatisme op basis van item response theorie

Jonker, W (2013) Onderzoek naar erfelijkheid van conservatisme op basis van item response theorie.

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Abstract:In order to determine the inheritance of a psychological trait psychologist often use questionnaire to measure the trait. Based on the responses on the questionnaire a sum score is calculated per individual. Heredity of the trait can be estimated by comparing in which extent monozygotic twin pairs and dizygotic twin pairs score on the questionnaire. A problem with this method is that a portion of the sum score for the trait is random error. Because of this error the comparison between the twin pairs is no longer pure. This impurity in measurement causes in most cases an underestimation of the actual heritability. In this bachelor thesis a method is used that can correct for the measurement error and is based on item response theory. This method will be used to estimate the heritability of the conservative personality trait. The conservative personality trait can be described as a general preference for traditional and conventional forms of behaviour. The analysis in this bachelor thesis shows that estimating the heritability of the conservative personality based on item response theory method is 22% higher than the heritability estimated based on sum scores. This result is consistent with the expectation that the estimation of heritability based on sum scores is in most cases an underestimation of the actual heredity.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64082
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