Methodologically sound: Evaluating the psychometric approach to the assessment of human life history [Reply to Copping, Campbell, and Muncer, 2014]

Aurelio José Figueredo, Tomás Cabeza de Baca, Candace Jasmine Black, Rafael Antonio García, Heitor Barcellos Ferreira Fernandes, Pedro Sofio Abril Wolf, Michael Anthony Woodley of Menie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Copping, Campbell, and Muncer (2014) have recently published an article critical of the psychometric approach to the assessment of life history (LH) strategy. Their purported goal was testing for the convergent validation and examining the psychometric structure of the High-K Strategy Scale (HKSS). As much of the literature on the psychometrics of human LH during the past decade or so has emanated from our research laboratory and those of close collaborators, we have prepared this detailed response. Our response is organized into four main sections: (1) A review of psychometric methods for the assessment of human LH strategy, expounding upon the essence of our approach; (2) our theoretical/conceptual concerns regarding the critique, addressing the broader issues raised by the critique regarding the latent and hierarchical structure of LH strategy; (3) our statistical/methodological concerns regarding the critique, examining the validity and persuasiveness of the empirical case made specifically against the HKSS; and (4) our recommendations for future research that we think might be helpful in closing the gap between the psychometric and biometric approaches to measurement in this area. Clearly stating our theoretical positions, describing our existing body of work, and acknowledging their limitations should assist future researchers in planning and implementing more informed and prudent empirical research that will synthesize the psychometric approach to the assessment of LH strategy with complementary methods.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)299-338
Number of pages40
JournalEvolutionary Psychology
Volume13
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biometrics
  • Brunswik-symmetry
  • Demography
  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Life history strategy
  • Methodology
  • Psychometrics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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