Journal article
Optimists or Optimistic? A Taxometric Study of Optimism
Psychological assessment, Vol.26(3), pp.1056-1061
09/2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/114445
PMID: 25068911
Abstract
Although most researchers have assumed that optimism exists on a continuum, it is not uncommon for researchers to dichotomize their data into optimists and pessimists, thus treating optimism as a categorical or taxonic variable. To address the question of whether optimism is dimensional or taxonic, the authors performed a set of taxometric analyses on 3 indicators derived from measures of hope and optimism using data from 510 college students. The results provided consistent evidence that optimism is dimensional. Colloquially, people may speak of optimists and pessimists, but researchers should avoid dichotomizing this continuous variable.
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Details
- Title
- Optimists or Optimistic? A Taxometric Study of Optimism
- Creators
- Katherine V Eichner - Department of Psychology, Washington State UniversityPaul Kwon - Department of Psychology, Washington State UniversityDavid K Marcus - Department of Psychology, Washington State University
- Contributors
- Cecil R Reynolds (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Psychological assessment, Vol.26(3), pp.1056-1061
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Identifiers
- 99900547686701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article