Trierer Personality Inventory. Primary data from the standardization sample.

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

Research Design:

Normalized Test Procedure; single measurement

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

The Trier Personality Questionnaire (TPI) was theoretically developed. More than 300 items were generated based on assumptions about core areas of mental health, 7 indicators of mental health, and behavioral control, the so-called "superfactor". Using these as well as factor analysis and classic test theory methods (discriminative power, examination of the internal consistency and distribution characteristics, etc.), 120 items for the final version of the TPI were created. 

The TPI includes 9 scales for the following constructs:
Superfactors: (1) behavioral control and (2) mental health.
Psycho-physical well-being: (3)meaningfulness vs depressiveness, (4) self-forgetfulness vs self-centering, and (5) symptom free vs nervousness.
Self-actualization: (6) expansiveness and (7) autonomy.
Peer- and self-esteem: (8) self-esteem and (9) ability to love.

An example item reads: "I look with confidence toward the future." The subject can choose between the response categories "always", "often", "sometimes", and "never". 

The test manual provides detailed information. The TPI was translated into other languages (including English, French, Hebrew, Spanish, Greek, and Chinese versions). There is a computerized version (Hogrefe Test System).

Data Collection Method:

Data collection in the presence of an experimenter

• Individual Administration
• Paper and Pencil

Data collection in the absence of an experimenter

• Mail Survey

Population:

Adults German citizens aged 18-80 years

Survey Time Period:

1988

Sample:

Stratified, systematic sample

Gender Distribution:

58,1% female subjects (n=525)
41,9% male subjects (n=436)

Age Distribution: 18-80 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany/Former West German States

Subject Recruitment:

The selected persons (other than a subsample of 80 panelists who were visited in their homes) were contacted by mail and asked to volunteer to complete the TPI. In some cases 5 DM were offered as compensation. Potential subjects were provided with a postage-free postcard with which they could indicate their willingness to participate. Willing subjects then received the TPI, a postage-paid return envelope, and another postcard by which they could inform the experimenter that they had completed the TPI and returned it using the anonymous envelop. This complex process ensured the complete anonymity of the participant.

Sample Size:

961 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

The response rate of the complete postal data collection was 18%. Of the 80 randomly selected subjects visited at home, there was a significantly higher participation rate of 51%. Datasets with more than 10 missing values were excluded.