Establishing test-retest reliability of the comprehensive affect and personality scales.

Abstract

The present study sought to establish test-retest reliability of the Comprehensive Affect and Personality Scales (CAPS; Lubin & Whitlock, 1999) over the span of 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The CAPS is composed of two forms, an affect state measure (CAPS-ASR) and a personality trait measure (CAPS-PTR). Participants were 78 undergraduate students from a medium-sized Midwestern university. All participants were administered the CAPS in an initial session. Students returned either 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks later to complete the CAPS again. Results indicated that the CAPS is, indeed, temporally stable. CAPSASR scores were less reliable over time, reflecting the fluctuation of affect by the context of individuals' environments. CAPS-PTR scores were stable over time with no decrease in reliability. The CAPS-PTR scores were more stable over time than the CAPS-ASR scores, supporting the idea that personality traits are more representative of individuals' patterns of behavior, whereas affect states are more a measure of extended mood and will fluctuate over time. The CAPS reliably measures both affect states and personality traits over time.