Recent advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI), specifically large language models (LLMs), provide new possibilities for researchers to partner with AI when developing and refining psychological instruments. In this paper we demonstrate how LLMs, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT 4 model, might be used to support the development of new psychometric scales. Partnering with AI for the purpose of developing and refining instruments, however, comes with its share of potential pitfalls. We thereby discuss throughout the paper that instrument development and refinement start and end with human judgment and expertise. We open with two use-cases that describe how we used LLMs in the development and refinement of two new psychological instruments. Next, we discuss possibilities for where and how researchers can use LLMs in the process of instrument development more broadly, including considerations for maximizing the benefits of LLMs and addressing the potential hazards when working with LLMs. Finally, we close by offering initial suggestions for psychology researchers interested in partnering with LLMs in this capacity.
Social camouflaging is a set of behaviours used by autistic people to conceal social differences. This paper provides an analysis of social camouflaging within the developmental context of autistic persons. We suggest that autistic people achieve person-environment fit with their social environment by using social camouflaging as an inauthentic form of trait expression whereby autistic traits are masked and neurotypical traits are displayed. The resulting consequences for autistic individuals may be interpersonally beneficial, but conversely intrapersonally detrimental, when considering existing theories or models of person-environment fit throughout development. The current paper explores this dichotomy and suggests implications for future social camouflaging research in autism, such as considering a broader developmental context through which to study the consequences of camouflaging. Clinical implications include an increased focus on reciprocity between autistic individuals and their social environment.
In this article, the psychometric properties of a new scale aimed at quantifying Growth Mindset are explored. Growth Mindset Scale is a quantitative measure which is context independent and simple to administer.
Growth Mindset Scale was tested on 723 participants between 16 and 85 years of age (mean age = 28.56, SD = 12.14), which allowed for the exploration of feasibility, internal consistency, and construct validity.
The results indicate that the growth mindset scale is applicable for the age studied (16–85). All individual item scores showed a positive correlation with the total score and ranged between 0.45 and 0.63. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.83 for the standardized items. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the total score of the Growth Mindset Scale and the total score of Theories of intelligence scale was r = 0.168 (p < 0.001).
These encouraging results assure additional improvement of the growth mindset scale, involving normalization based on a larger, representative sample.
Playfulness is an individual difference variable that enables people to experience and (re)frame situations of everyday life as interesting, entertaining, and/or stimulating. This definition is consistent with a structural model that includes four different playfulness facets: other-directed, lighthearted, intellectual, and whimsical playfulness. In the work context, playfulness has been shown to be related with various outcomes such as innovative behavior or intrinsic goals. We tested adult playfulness' associations with coping strategies employed at work and whether these coping strategies help to transfer the expected association between playfulness and employees' life satisfaction. Study 1 (N = 185; nursery school trainees) provides support for our hypothesis that playfulness is associated with more positive and less negative coping strategies when being confronted with general and work-specific stress. Study 2 (N = 355; employees from various working fields) confirms our results from study 1 by demonstrating that playfulness is related to adaptively coping with work stress. Further, study 2 shows that some playfulness facets were positively related to life satisfaction and that these associations were transferred by coping less negatively with work stress and, to some degree, also by utilizing positive control strategies. Overall, our findings indicate that adults' playfulness is of importance for coping with stress at work and to further explain employees’ life-satisfaction. Directions for future research on playfulness in the work place are discussed.