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Character Attributes Scale: An Integrative Idiographic and Differential Approach to Measuring Character

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Title: Character Attributes Scale: An Integrative Idiographic and Differential Approach to Measuring Character
Language: English
Authors: Roya Abbasi-Asl (ORCID 0000-0003-1186-5424), Richard M. Lerner, Natasha Keces, Dian Yu, Jonathan M. Tirrell (ORCID 0000-0002-4825-0207), Elizabeth M. Dowling, Alistair Sim, Jacqueline V. Lerner, Margaret Mackin, Alexa Hasse, Kirsten Olander, Kiana Douglas, Patience Kibbedi, Jane Wanyama
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 2026 50(2):186-199.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Test Construction, Test Reliability, Test Validity, Personality, Personality Assessment, Personality Measures, Individual Development, Interpersonal Competence
Geographic Terms: Uganda
DOI: 10.1177/01650254251324128
ISSN: 0165-0254
1464-0651
Abstract: To understand youth character development, assessments must consider both the fluctuations of an individual's character across time and place (within-person variations), as well as the changes in their character relative to other individuals in their context (between-person differences). Although measures of character exist for between-person research, there is a need for context-specific, valid, and reliable measures of character that can capture both within- and between-person variations. In the present study, we used multilevel factor analysis (MFA) to establish the validity and reliability of a novel measure of character attributes--the Character Attributes Scale (CAS)--using an intensive longitudinal data set from the Compassion International Study of Positive Youth Development in Uganda. Participants (N = 200, 49.5% female, M[subscript age] = 12.13, SD[subscript age] = 2.19) completed a weekly survey of character attributes across 10 to 15 measurement occasions (total observations = 2,991). The MFA findings supported a four-factor structure for the CAS, consisting of 13 items at both the within- and between-person levels. These factors encompass the attributes of transcendence (three items), generosity (three items), gratitude (three items), and purpose (four items). In addition, the findings demonstrated significant positive associations between these attributes and intentional self-regulation, serving as an indicator of convergent validity. Reliability for subscales at the within-person level varied from [omega][superscript w] = 0.590 to [omega][superscript w] = 0.702 and at the between-person level from [omega][superscript b] = 0.802 to [omega][superscript b] = 0.881. Implications for future research using the current scale to study character development--including capturing both within-person variations (intensive assessments/idiographic approach) and between-person differences (cross-sectional assessments/nomothetic, differential approaches)--are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499914
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Character Attributes Scale: An Integrative Idiographic and Differential Approach to Measuring Character
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roya+Abbasi-Asl%22">Roya Abbasi-Asl</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1186-5424">0000-0003-1186-5424</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Richard+M%2E+Lerner%22">Richard M. Lerner</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Natasha+Keces%22">Natasha Keces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dian+Yu%22">Dian Yu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonathan+M%2E+Tirrell%22">Jonathan M. Tirrell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4825-0207">0000-0002-4825-0207</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+M%2E+Dowling%22">Elizabeth M. Dowling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alistair+Sim%22">Alistair Sim</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jacqueline+V%2E+Lerner%22">Jacqueline V. Lerner</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Margaret+Mackin%22">Margaret Mackin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexa+Hasse%22">Alexa Hasse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirsten+Olander%22">Kirsten Olander</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kiana+Douglas%22">Kiana Douglas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patience+Kibbedi%22">Patience Kibbedi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jane+Wanyama%22">Jane Wanyama</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Behavioral+Development%22"><i>International Journal of Behavioral Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 50(2):186-199.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personality%22">Personality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personality+Assessment%22">Personality Assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personality+Measures%22">Personality Measures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Development%22">Individual Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Competence%22">Interpersonal Competence</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uganda%22">Uganda</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/01650254251324128
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  Data: 0165-0254<br />1464-0651
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  Data: To understand youth character development, assessments must consider both the fluctuations of an individual's character across time and place (within-person variations), as well as the changes in their character relative to other individuals in their context (between-person differences). Although measures of character exist for between-person research, there is a need for context-specific, valid, and reliable measures of character that can capture both within- and between-person variations. In the present study, we used multilevel factor analysis (MFA) to establish the validity and reliability of a novel measure of character attributes--the Character Attributes Scale (CAS)--using an intensive longitudinal data set from the Compassion International Study of Positive Youth Development in Uganda. Participants (N = 200, 49.5% female, M[subscript age] = 12.13, SD[subscript age] = 2.19) completed a weekly survey of character attributes across 10 to 15 measurement occasions (total observations = 2,991). The MFA findings supported a four-factor structure for the CAS, consisting of 13 items at both the within- and between-person levels. These factors encompass the attributes of transcendence (three items), generosity (three items), gratitude (three items), and purpose (four items). In addition, the findings demonstrated significant positive associations between these attributes and intentional self-regulation, serving as an indicator of convergent validity. Reliability for subscales at the within-person level varied from [omega][superscript w] = 0.590 to [omega][superscript w] = 0.702 and at the between-person level from [omega][superscript b] = 0.802 to [omega][superscript b] = 0.881. Implications for future research using the current scale to study character development--including capturing both within-person variations (intensive assessments/idiographic approach) and between-person differences (cross-sectional assessments/nomothetic, differential approaches)--are discussed.
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      – SubjectFull: Uganda
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