Article Identification
My choice in this article was informed by my interest in the diversity in the personality traits between men and women. I also wanted to understand whether the differences in the personality traits are as pronounced in all cultures as is the case in my culture. This article affords me this opportunity, more so using findings from a global study into the phenomenon. Rather than surveying diverse respondents, the article sought to determine the extent of the differences in personality traits between developed cultures and cultures in poor socioeconomic settings. I found this to be very interesting, as it would understand the whether the differences attenuate as cultures become less egalitarian.
APA Citation Format
In order to acknowledge the source of the borrowed material, I would cite the authors as follows: (Schmitt et al., 2008).
I would reference the article at the end of the paper as follows:
Schmitt, D. et al., (2008). Why Can’t a Man Be More Like a Woman? Sex Differences in Big Five Personality Traits Across 55 Cultures, Journal of personality and social psychology, 94(1): 168-182.
Article Summary
- Introduction
In the lead in information, the author summarizes other studies that have found personality differences between men and women. While sex differences are detectable early on in childhood, they persist through adulthood, the result of which is differences in certain personality traits in the two sexes. Additionally, studies have found that men and women in certain culture elicit high scores in certain personality traits compared to others. The comparison of different ages and data sources also shows differences in different personality traits.
- Research Methods
- The research design employed by the authors of the article is the survey research design. This design was appropriate because of the large sample envisioned and the fact that the sample would be derived from fifty five countries across different continents. The survey research design would allow them to administer the research instruments to the large sample with relative ease.
- Some of the measures include by the authors included sex ratios, gender empowerment measure and Gender-related Development Index. While these were supplementary measures, the Big Five Inventory was the primary measure used in the study.
- There were 17,637 participants drawn from fifty five countries. This indicated diversity in the cultures, socioeconomic and geographical locations of the participants.
- Findings/Analysis
With regards to the Big Five Inventory measure, women more than men reported higher on indicators like conscientiousness in addition to neuroticism, agreeableness as well as extraversion (Schmitt et al., 2008). As such, the findings of the study were consistent with findings from previous studies.
- Conclusion/Discussion
Reference
Schmitt, D. et al., (2008). Why Can’t a Man Be More Like a Woman? Sex Differences in Big Five Personality Traits Across 55 Cultures, Journal of personality and social psychology, 94(1): 168-182.
