The Situational Strength Hypothesis and the Measurement of Personality

Abstract

This study attempted to test the situational strength hypothesis and to investigate the extent to which situational strength determines the trait level at which situations are more discriminative. Twelve items aimed to assess cooperation were constructed based on 2 × 2 symmetric games with varying degree of situational strength. The sample comprised 704 participants. The interaction between social value orientation (SVO) and situational strength on cooperative behavior was analyzed using generalized estimating equations. The psychometric properties of the items were examined under an item response theory framework. The results were as follows: (1) although situational strength moderated the effect of SVO on behavior, the results did not consistently support the situational strength hypothesis; and (2) situational strength successfully predicted the item location parameter estimates, demonstrating its usefulness for personality measurement. The role of situational strength as a bridge between theory and measurement is discussed.