Personality correlates of self-report, role-playing, and in vivo measures of assertiveness

Assessed the construct equivalence of the 3 types of assertiveness measures: self-report, role playing, and in vivo. Construct equivalence was examined by determining the relationships between these measures and a standardized personality inventory. 76 undergraduates completed 2 self-report inventories of assertiveness (the Rathus Assertiveness Scale and the College Self-Expression Scale), participated in a behavior role-playing task and an in vivo measure of assertiveness, and completed a comprehensive personality inventory [the Personality Research Form, Form E, or (PRF-E)]. 11 of 22 PRF-E scales had at least 1 significant correlation with the assertiveness measures. Also, some composites of the PRF-E scales were related to the assertiveness measures. The pattern of correlations with the PRF-E, for the most part, was consistent with theoretical predictions for the self-report and role-playing measures. However, each of the methods for measuring assertiveness did appear to assess some unique aspects of the assertiveness construct. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).