The assessment of individual differences has a long history. As early as 2200 B.C. the Chinese were employing methods to select candidates for civil service positions. Over the ensuing centuries philosophers, theologians, and the nobility all noticed and debated the role of "character" in shaping the destiny and quality of individual lives. This interest spawned widely different methods of evaluating the timbre of temperament-bumps on the head, lines on the hand, shape of the body-all of which were em ployed in attempts to gain insight into basic human motives. The emer gence of the scientific method and its application to this endeavor reinvigorated society's efforts in this direction, and an abundant variety of assessment instruments consequently became available. The outbreak of World War I created a need for the efficient assess ment of individual differences in large groups. Such instruments as the Woodworth Personal Data Sheet and the Army Alpha Test resulted in gen uine breakthroughs in assessment technology. These tests provided stan dardized sets of items that permitted quantitative comparisons among people. Over the years, numerous scales have been developed which have been based on widely differing levels of psychometric sophistication.

Klappentext

The Revised NEO Personality Inventory is the first practical guide to the use and interpretation of the NEO PI-R, the only commercially available instrument to assess personality on the dimensions of the Five-Factor Model. Unlike instruments that emphasize only psychopathology, the NEO PI-R identifies personality strengths as well as problematic personality styles. Clinicians who draw upon this greatly expanded range of relevant client information can more effectively plan treatment and document progress. This volume provides -a complete introduction-a far-ranging summary of multidisciplinary, multicultural research-instructions for effective use-and a computer program and questionnaires to help researchers with new samples and outcome studies.

Zusammenfassung
The assessment of individual differences has a long history. The emer gence of the scientific method and its application to this endeavor reinvigorated society's efforts in this direction, and an abundant variety of assessment instruments consequently became available.

Inhalt
Personality and its Assessment.- Psychometric Overview of the NEO PI-R.- Interpreting the NEO PI-R.- Profile Analysis using the NEO PI-R.- Applications of the Rater Version of the NEO PI-R.- Research Applications with the NEO PI-R.