Psychological Trait Measurement
The author of this report is asked to create a psychological-related test that measures something important yet psychological in nature. To that end, the author of this report is going to have a test that measure stress and anger in drivers as they commute to work in a rush hour environment. The different levels of reaction times and emotions expressed will be capture and measured so as to find out the depth and breadth of a person's problems with driving in a dicey commute. While no such test is going to be exhaustive and perpetually accurate, the test can at least point practitioners using the test in the right direction (Aiken & Groth-Marnat, 2006).
Analysis
A proper review of a person's reactions and performance in traffic and how it might degrade when they get angry or stressed requires a dual-pronged measurement approach that focuses on both positive and negative behaviors as well as reaction times and performance overall during each. This sort of dual-yardstick approach is needed to show how driving quality is during good moods and how this compares to times when the driver's mood goes south. The psychological dimensions measured are there to show performance under stress and what precise manifestations are present. Evaluation of what manifestations exist as well as what appears to be causing them would both be important details to look at (Albrecht, 2013; Kirchner, 2014).
Given the above, the dimensions that should and would be assessed are as follows. Five of the facets will be driving-related...
The directions of the test are to measure each type of driving metric both before and during times of stress and outrage and then comparing the two. The design of the test is a dual focus on driving in particular and how psychological traits manifest and render themselves while driving. The type of test will be an observational test that can be done via a video camera with a preference being on the driver not knowing they are being watched (to avoid the Hawtorne effect) but consent can be garnered if ethically necessary. The scoring will be fairly simple in that reaction times and the prevalence of good and bad behaviors will be measured in frequency and average time of reaction and such in terms of seconds or minutes. The metrics that will be looked at are as follows:
Braking Performance: This would measure how and when people in the car brake, especially as compared to the conditions that lead to the breaking including reckless drivers, sudden stops, and so forth
Acceleration Habits: This would look at how quickly someone in the car speeds up including after stopping at a stoplight, when traffic speeds up after a bottleneck and traffic and so on Lane Change Habits: This would assess how and when lane changes are made and whether these are done prudently and properly given the traffic situation. Dimensions assessed would be if/when signal is used, how swiftly one moves from one lane to another and so forth.
Gestures or speech to other drivers: Any speech or gesticulations to…
