Assessing Personality and Mood With Adjective Check List Methodology: A Review

Abstract

This article addresses the benefits and problems in using adjective check list methodology to assess personality. Recent developments in this assessment method are reviewed, emphasizing seminal adjective-based personality tests (Gough's Adjective Check List), mood tests (Lubin's Depressive Adjective Test, Multiple Affect Adjective Check List), applications to the Five-Factor Model (Goldberg's "markers"; Wiggins's Interpersonal Adjective Test–Revised), and more recent use of this methodology in personality assessment (Strack's Personality Adjective Check List). Strengths and issues in using this methodology in personality assessment, including issues in international applications, are discussed.