Problem-solving style and multicultural personality dispositions: a study of construct validity.
This exploratory study examined the relationship between problem-solving styles and multicultural personality dispositions among 91 graduate students enrolled in an urban university located in the northeast United States. Problem-solving style was assessed with the three dimensions of the VIEW: an Assessment of Problem Solving Style. Multicultural personality was assessed with the five-factor Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ); its factors of Cultural Empathy, Open-mindedness, Social Initiative, and Flexibility correlated significantly with Explorer and External problem-solving styles, as predicted. The Emotional Stability subscale also correlated significantly with scores on Explorer style, suggesting that individuals who prefer "thinking in new directions" in problem solving are more likely to report remaining calm under stressful situations. Collectively, study results provided additional evidence of construct validity for the VIEW.
Houtz
John C
JC
Graduate School of Education, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA. jhoutz@fordham.edu
Ponterotto
Joseph G
JG
Burger
Claudia
C
Marino
Cherylynn
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002605:Character; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult