The Study of Personality Architecture and Dynamics (SPeADy): A Longitudinal and Extended Twin Family Study

Abstract

The Study of Personality Architecture and Dynamics (SPeADy) is a German research project that aims to investigate the sources of interindividual differences in intraindividual personality development. The main focus lies in the dynamic interplay between more stable core characteristics and more environmentally malleable surface characteristics, as well as between personality and life experiences over time. SPeADy includes a twin family study encompassing data from 1962 individuals (age: 14–94) of 682 families, including 570 complete twin pairs (plus 1 triplet set), 327 parents, 236 spouses and 145 children of twins. Data collection started in 2016 and data from the first wave are currently obtainable as open source. Available data comprise a broad range of personality variables, such as personality trait constructs, motives, interests, values, moral foundations, religiosity and self-related concepts. For the currently ongoing second wave of data collection, we added retrospective reports on major life events. Special features of this genetically informative study are the extended twin family data and its longitudinal design. Three assessment waves in 2 years’ intervals are planned until 2022. In this article, we briefly describe the design and contents of the SPeADy twin family study as well as some recent findings, future plans and open science issues.

Test-retest reliability of the HEXACO-100—And the value of multiple measurements for assessing reliability

“…Despite providing good preliminary evidence for the temporal stability of HEXACO domains, all three studies used a testing interval more appropriate for long-term stability estimates, rather than for quantifying r TT [ 19 ]. Longer retest intervals over many months or even years confound unreliability (or “transient error”) with actual personality change, while short-term intervals such as two weeks [ 20 , 21 ] or less [ 22 ] are more appropriate to quantify r TT because true change is unlikely to occur, but test takers are also unlikely to retrieve their previous responses from memory.…”

“…Despite providing good preliminary evidence for the temporal stability of HEXACO domains, all three studies used a testing interval more appropriate for long-term stability estimates, rather than for quantifying r TT [19]. Longer retest intervals over many months or even years confound unreliability (or "transient error") with actual personality change, while short-in the additional analyses was not collected by the authors of this manuscript.…”

How genetic and environmental variance in personality traits shift across the life span: Evidence from a cross-national twin study.

“…Different strategies were used for the recruitment of twins, such as media calls, attending twin club meetings, and getting contact details from registration offices or former twin studies. The sample cannot be treated as population-based, but it can be seen as heterogeneous with respect to age, gender, family status, and educational level (see Kandler, Penner, Richter, & Zapko-Willmes, 2019, for more details on the recruitment procedure and sample characteristics). All participating twins provided an informed consent and contributed data via an online survey or mailed questionnaires.…”

Personality science: United in diversity. Inaugural editorial for the new journal "Personality Science"

“…Third, there are certain kinds of papers that may be difficult to publish in a more traditional journal, and we want these to be able to find a home in PS. For example, a description of an ongoing or past empirical project; an interesting dataset or database; or a platform for research, testing, or teaching resources for the field (e.g., Atherton & Robins, 2020;Kandler et al, 2019;Spadaro et al, 2020) can be submitted as a Projects & Data paper type to stimulate collaboration and help dissemination. An exciting yet not fully cooked idea or preliminary but important analysis can be submitted as an Insights & Ideas paper type, serving as a short communication of a "eureka" moment.…”