Abstract
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of the Criterion Task Set (CTS) as a method for personality theory testing. Subjects in a large CTS standardization study were administered the Sensation Seeking scale and the Stimulus Screening scale, two personality dimensions based theoretically on perceptual or biological processes that are believed to mediate task performance. Results indicated that high sensation seekers respond faster, but not necessarily more accurately, than low sensation seekers to central processing tasks. No differences were found for input/perceptual or motor/output tasks. Also, no differences were found between screeners and nonscreeners for any CTS tasks. The results of this study suggest that the CTS can be used profitably by personality researchers to test the basic assumptions of the theories of some personality dimensions.
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