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50 Years of Character Assessment: A Scoping Review of Psychometric Instruments Measuring Character or Virtues

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  • James Aluri

    (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

  • Margot Kelly-Hedrick

    (Duke University School of Medicine)

Abstract

The positive psychology movement has reintroduced the concepts of character and virtue to the study of individual differences. Over the past few decades, a variety of instruments have been developed to measure character and virtue. We conducted a scoping review of psychometric instruments intended to measure an individual’s character or virtues published after 1970. Our review found 41 instruments, described across 641 publications. The vast majority of the publications used the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Values In Action (VIA) instruments. The instruments identified in our review are recent (all published after 1993), with increasing numbers of instruments published in each subsequent decade. A variety of other instruments have been developed for particular cultural, occupational, and academic contexts. Reviewed psychometric reliability properties were satisfactory. The literature lacks consensus on the definitions of character and virtue and names many character and virtue traits. Yet, many instruments also share common ground in the meanings of their traits. We use the findings of our scoping review to suggest three projects to advance the field of character and virtue assessment.

Suggested Citation

  • James Aluri & Margot Kelly-Hedrick, 2023. "50 Years of Character Assessment: A Scoping Review of Psychometric Instruments Measuring Character or Virtues," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 2107-2129, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-023-10179-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-023-10179-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Claudia Harzer & Willibald Ruch, 2013. "The Application of Signature Character Strengths and Positive Experiences at Work," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 965-983, June.
    2. James T. Aluri & Kevin C. Li, 2022. "Personality and Character: A Comparative Qualitative Analysis of Trait Descriptions in NEO-PI-3 and Character Strengths and Virtues," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 3055-3094, August.
    3. Rosa Chun, 2017. "Organizational Virtue and Performance: An Empirical Study of Customers and Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(4), pages 869-881, December.
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