Assessment of Situational Perceptions

Abstract

The assessment of situations and especially situational perceptions is the focus of this chapter. Based on the ABC principles of test construction (Ziegler, 2014b) and the road map to the taxonomization of situations (Rauthmann, 2015), this chapter shows how situational taxonomies and their assessment tools can be developed. These principles are exemplified by presenting three recent situational taxonomies and the effect different approaches have on the resulting taxonomy. Similarities and differences to established taxonomies of personality traits (such as the Big Five) are discussed. Furthermore, a new taxonomy and assessment tool is presented that captures personality traits and situational perception at the same time. Finally, challenges of future situational taxonomization, especially the need to establish a nomological net of situational perception and other, related constructs and psychological processes, are discussed.