Which Research Method to Use on Personality

Throughout the year, we have learned several different methods of research to understand different things. When looking at personality, do we use case studies, surveys, or experimentation? The answer is that it depends on which perspective we are looking into.

Lets look at all four:

Psychoanalytic approach: This is Freud’s theory. It says personality deals with the conflict between our biological and social restraints and how we deal with these impulses.  The players in this conflict are three interacting systems: the id, the ego, and the superego. To study this, it would be best to use case-study or a survey. Not only are these less expensive, but also the results would tend to be reliable. The reason you can use this approach is because you can look in depth at an individual in a case study and understand their conscious drive, and a survey would also tell you about the person.

Humanistic: Maslow’s theory looks at positive psychology and the goodness in humans while maintaining the idea that humans are basically good. The only way to research this approach is through case studies, since it focuses so much on the person.

Trait: Trait researchers have attempted to describe personality in terms of stable and enduring behavior patterns, or predispositions to feel and act. Many effective methods can be used to look at the trait theory, including personality inventories, such as Myer-Briggs and MMPI.

Social-Cognitive: This approach applies principles of learning and cognition to the study of personality. Using observations, surveys, and experimentation are the best method of researching this perspective.