Do Measures of Self-Control Suffer From the Jingle Fallacy? The Convergent and Divergent Validity of Different Measures of Self-Control

• In Event: New Directions in Self-Control Research

Abstract

A variety of researchers have raised concerns over the measurement of self-control. Some analyses have focused on principal components analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, or item response theory. The current study supplements these efforts by exploring the convergent and divergent validity of different measures of self-control. Specific focus is given to possibility of the jingle fallacy, whereby constructs labeled the same are in fact tapping into different constructs. Results indicate that these different measures overlap somewhat, but it is clear that they are measuring self-control differently. Each shows convergent validity with offending, as well as personality traits from the HEXACO known to be related to antisocial behavior. However, some self-control measures are related to HEXACO traits that are unrelated to antisocial behavior, and others do not show sufficient divergent validity. The findings suggest the field should pay closer attention to measurement issues because measures of self-control suffer from the jingle fallacy and therefore not interchangeable.

Author

• Shayne Jones, University of South Florida