Determinants and validity of self-estimates of abilities and self-concept measures.

How accurate are self-estimates of cognitive abilities? An investigation of self-estimates of verbal, math, and spatial abilities is reported with a battery of parallel objective tests of abilities. Self-estimates were obtained prior to and after objective ability testing (without test feedback) in order to examine whether self-estimates change after direct objective testing experience. Self-estimates showed small to large effect-size correlations with objective tests--larger for math and smaller for verbal. The construct space of self-estimates of abilities was explored in the context of self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, personality, interests, motivational traits, and trait complexes. Self-efficacy and self-esteem variables showed the highest correlations with self-estimates of abilities. In general, trait complexes showed the highest correlations with verbal ability self-estimates and the lowest correlations with math ability self-estimates. Results are discussed in relation to the principle of aggregation, the influences of self-evaluative judgments, and uses for self-estimates of abilities measures.

[1]  P. Ackerman,et al.  Determinants of Domain Knowledge and Independent Study Learning in an Adult Sample. , 2006 .

[2]  U. Trautwein,et al.  Self-esteem, academic self-concept, and achievement: how the learning environment moderates the dynamics of self-concept. , 2006, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[3]  Ruth H. Maki,et al.  Individual Differences in Absolute and Relative Metacomprehension Accuracy. , 2005 .

[4]  Ulrich Trautwein,et al.  Academic self-concept, interest, grades, and standardized test scores: reciprocal effects models of causal ordering. , 2005, Child development.

[5]  A. Furnham,et al.  Personality and Intelligence: Gender, the Big Five, Self-Estimated and Psychometric Intelligence , 2005 .

[6]  F. Preckel,et al.  Self-estimates of intelligence––methodological approaches and gender differences , 2005 .

[7]  Nancy Cantor,et al.  Anticipatory and post hoc cushioning strategies: Optimism and defensive pessimism in “risky” situations , 1986, Cognitive Therapy and Research.

[8]  A. Furnham,et al.  The relationship between estimated and psychometric personality and intelligence scores , 2004 .

[9]  B. A. Sullivan,et al.  Mapping Associations between Interests and Personality: Toward a Conceptual Understanding of Individual Differences in Vocational Behavior. , 2004 .

[10]  A. Furnham,et al.  Estimating one's own personality and intelligence scores. , 2004, British journal of psychology.

[11]  Valerie M. Chase,et al.  How to keep children safe in traffic: find the daredevils early. , 2003, Journal of experimental psychology. Applied.

[12]  A. Elliot,et al.  A motivational analysis of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping. , 2003, Journal of personality.

[13]  P. Ackerman,et al.  Individual differences in working memory within a nomological network of cognitive and perceptual speed abilities. , 2002, Journal of experimental psychology. General.

[14]  Phillip L. Ackerman,et al.  What we really know about our abilities and our knowledge , 2002 .

[15]  G. D. Gottfredson,et al.  Interests, Aspirations, Self-Estimates, and the Self-Directed Search , 2002 .

[16]  Joachim Krueger,et al.  Unskilled, unaware, or both? The better-than-average heuristic and statistical regression predict errors in estimates of own performance. , 2002, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[17]  David Dunning,et al.  Unskilled and unaware--but why? A reply to Krueger and Mueller (2002). , 2002, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[18]  Phillip L. Ackerman,et al.  Determinants of Individual Differences and Gender Differences in Knowledge. , 2001 .

[19]  K. Trzesniewski,et al.  Measuring Global Self-Esteem: Construct Validation of a Single-Item Measure and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale , 2001 .

[20]  Gilad Chen,et al.  Validation of a New General Self-Efficacy Scale , 2001 .

[21]  Phillip L. Ackerman,et al.  Individual differences in work motivation: Further explorations of a trait framework. , 2000 .

[22]  Kristy R Bowen,et al.  Explorations of crystallized intelligence: Completion tests, cloze tests, and knowledge , 2000 .

[23]  P. Ackerman,et al.  Domain-specific knowledge as the "dark matter" of adult intelligence: Gf/Gc, personality and interest correlates. , 2000, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[24]  Eric D. Heggestad,et al.  Individual Differences in Trait Motivation: Development of the Motivational Trait Questionnaire. , 2000 .

[25]  J. Kruger,et al.  Unskilled and unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing one's own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments. , 1999, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[26]  A. Furnham,et al.  Correlations Between Self-Estimated and Psychometrically Measured IQ , 1999 .

[27]  P. Ackerman,et al.  The locus of adult intelligence: knowledge, abilities, and nonability traits. , 1999, Psychology and aging.

[28]  Alexander Seeshing Yeung,et al.  Longitudinal Structural Equation Models of Academic Self-Concept and Achievement: Gender Differences in the Development of Math and English Constructs , 1998 .

[29]  Delroy L. Paulhus,et al.  Self-Report Measures of Intelligence: Are They Useful as Proxy IQ Tests? , 1998 .

[30]  Ellen Winner,et al.  EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH INTELLIGENCE AND SCHOOLING , 1997 .

[31]  P. Ackerman.  Personality, Self‐Concept, Interests, and Intelligence: Which Construct Doesn't Fit? , 1997 .

[32]  Eric D. Heggestad,et al.  Intelligence, personality, and interests: evidence for overlapping traits. , 1997, Psychological bulletin.

[33]  L. Stankov,et al.  Confidence judgments in studies of individual differences , 1996 .

[34]  J. Ouellette,et al.  Abandoning Unrealistic Optimism: Performance Estimates and the Temporal Proximity of Self-Relevant Feedback , 1996 .

[35]  P. Ackerman.  A theory of adult intellectual development: Process, personality, interests, and knowledge , 1996 .

[36]  Eric D. Heggestad,et al.  Motivational skills & self-regulation for learning: A trait perspective , 1996 .

[37]  Phillip L. Ackerman,et al.  Cognitive and noncognitive determinants and consequences of complex skill acquisition. , 1995 .

[38]  Frank M. Pajares,et al.  Role of self-efficacy and self-concept beliefs in mathematical problem solving: A path analysis. , 1994 .

[39]  Madhubalan Viswanathan,et al.  Measurement of Individual Differences in Preference for Numerical Information , 1993 .

[40]  P. Pintrich,et al.  Reliability and Predictive Validity of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (Mslq) , 1993 .

[41]  P. Ackerman,et al.  INTEGRATING LABORATORY AND FIELD STUDY FOR IMPROVING SELECTION: DEVELOPMENT OF A BATTERY FOR PREDICTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SUCCESS , 1993 .

[42]  J. Carroll.  Human Cognitive Abilities-a sur-vey of factor-analytic studies , 1993 .

[43]  P. Ackerman,et al.  Personality-intelligence relations: assessment of typical intellectual engagement , 1992 .

[44]  L. Kramer.  The Social Construction of Ability Perceptions , 1991 .

[45]  Herbert W. Marsh,et al.  The Structure of Academic Self-Concept: The Marsh/Shavelson Model. , 1990 .

[46]  Jacob Cohen,et al.  THINGS I HAVE LEARNED (SO FAR) , 1990 .

[47]  Phillip L. Ackerman,et al.  Within-task intercorrelations of skilled performance: Implications for predicting individual differences? A comment on Henry & Hulin, 1987. , 1989 .

[48]  Bernhard Wilpert,et al.  Applied psychology : an international review , 1989 .

[49]  L. Cronbach.  Internal consistency of tests: Analyses old and new , 1988 .

[50]  M. Alicke.  Global self-evaluation as determined by the desirability and controllability of trait adjectives. , 1985 .

[51]  Herbert W. Marsh,et al.  Determinants of student self-concept: Is it better to be a relatively large fish in a small pond even if you don't learn to swim as well? , 1984 .

[52]  J. P. Rushton,et al.  Behavioral Development and Construct Validity: The Principle of Aggregation , 1983 .

[53]  Ronald R. Schmeck,et al.  Individual differences in cognition , 1983 .

[54]  Stephen G. West,et al.  Validity of self-evaluation of ability: A review and meta-analysis , 1982 .

[55]  C. Erdwins,et al.  The relationship of sex role to self-concept. , 1980, Journal of clinical psychology.

[56]  Seymour Epstein,et al.  The stability of behavior: I. On predicting most of the people much of the time. , 1979 .

[57]  B. Fischhoff,et al.  Knowing with Certainty: The Appropriateness of Extreme Confidence. , 1977 .

[58]  A. Denisi,et al.  Investigation of the uses of self-reports of abilities. , 1977 .

[59]  K. G. Bailey,et al.  Accuracy of Self-Ratings of Intelligence as a Function of Sex and Level of Ability in College Students. , 1976 .

[60]  R. Shavelson,et al.  Self-Concept: Validation of Construct Interpretations , 1976 .

[61]  Richard G. Montanelli,et al.  An Investigation of the Parallel Analysis Criterion for Determining the Number of Common Factors , 1975 .

[62]  J. W. Regan,et al.  Do people have inflated views of their own ability. , 1975, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[63]  S. Bem.  The measurement of psychological androgyny. , 1974, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[64]  J. L. Holland,et al.  Making Vocational Choices: A Theory of Careers , 1973 .

[65]  M. Rosenberg.  Society and the adolescent self-image , 1966 .

[66]  M. Fishbein,et al.  SOCIAL REFERENTS AND SELF-EVALUATION IN EXAMINATIONS. , 1965, The Journal of social psychology.

[67]  R. Snow.  EFFECTS OF LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS IN LEARNING FROM INSTRUCTIONAL FILMS , 1963 .

[68]  Lloyd G. Humphreys,et al.  Investigations of the simplex , 1960 .

[69]  L. Cronbach.  Essentials of psychological testing , 1960 .

[70]  L. Cronbach.  Essentials of psychological testing, 2nd ed. , 1960 .

[71]  J. L. Holland,et al.  A theory of vocational choice. , 1959 .

[72]  R M BRANDT,et al.  The accuracy of self estimate: a measure of selfconcept reality. , 1958, Genetic psychology monographs.

[73]  D. Wechsler.  Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. , 1955 .

[74]  R. Berdie.  Changes in self-ratings as a method of evaluating counseling. , 1954 .

[75]  C. Froehlich,et al.  Do counselees remember test scores , 1954 .

[76]  H. Gulliksen.  Theory of mental tests , 1952 .

[77]  L. Thurstone,et al.  Primary mental abilities. , 1938, Science.

[78]  Seth Arsenian.  Own estimate and objective measurement. , 1942 .

[79]  G. F. Kuder,et al.  The relation of primary mental abilities to activity preferences , 1940 .

[80]  C. I. Mosier.  A note on dwyer: The determination of the factor loadings of a given test , 1938 .

[81]  Paul S. Dwyer,et al.  The determination of the factor loadings of a given test from the known factor loadings of other tests , 1937 .

[82]  T. H. Schutte.  Students' Estimates of their Ability and Achievement , 1928 .

[83]  E. Shen.  The Validity of Self-Estimate. , 1925 .

[84]  L. Cogan,et al.  An Experimental Study of Self-Analysis, Estimates of Associates, and the Results of Tests. , 1915 .

[85]  W. James.  The principles of psychology , 1983 .