The Psychometric Evaluation of Human Life Histories.
A recent critique of Copping, Campbell, and Muncer raised several issues concerning the validity of psychometric assessment techniques in the study of life history (LH) strategies. In this reply, some of our key concerns about relying on aggregated psychometric measures are explained, and we raise questions generally regarding the use of higher order factor structures. Responses to some of the statistical issues raised by Figueredo et al. are also detailed. We stand by our original conclusions and call for more careful consideration of instruments used to evaluate hypotheses derived from LH theory.
1 Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
Lee T
LT
Copping
1 Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
Anne
A
Campbell
2 University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
Steven
S
Muncer
3 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
George B
GB
Richardson
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D000071421:Life History Traits; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*
K factor; evolutionary psychology; life history strategy; methodology; psychometrics