Act Prediction and the Conceptual Analysis of Personality Scales: Indices of Act Density, Bipolarity, and Extensity

A framework for conceptual analysis is advanced that attempts to specify the different kinds of act predictive statements that can be made about personality scales. Three formal indices were denned and operationalized: act density, act bipolarity, and act extensity. An empirical exploration of the framework was applied to the analysis of 22 personality scales ostensibly subsumed by six dispositional constructs. Results reveal several patterns that may elude more traditional validational and conceptual-analytic strategies. The assumption of bipolarity is questioned. Discussion focuses on the implications of this scheme for scale development, taxonomy construction, and theory building in personality psychology.