The Psychometric Evaluation of Human Life Histories: A Reply to Figueredo, Cabeza de Baca, Black, Garcia, Fernandes, Wolf, and Woodley (2015). (1st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Copping, Lee T.; Campbell, Anne; Muncer, Steven; Richardson, George B.
• Is Part Of: Evolutionary psychology. Volume 15:Number 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-02-01
• Subjects: life history strategy -- psychometrics -- methodology -- K factor -- evolutionary psychology; Evolutionary psychology -- Periodicals; Human evolution -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Biological Evolution; Psychology; Periodicals; 155.705
• DOI: 10.1177/1474704916663727
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-7049

Abstract

A recent critique of Copping, Campbell, and Muncer raised several issues concerning the validity of psychometric assessment techniques in the study of life history (LH) strategies. In this reply, some of our key concerns about relying on aggregated psychometric measures are explained, and we raise questions generally regarding the use of higher order factor structures. Responses to some of the statistical issues raised by Figueredo et al. are also detailed. We stand by our original conclusions and call for more careful consideration of instruments used to evaluate hypotheses derived from LH theory.