Verbal-quantitative differential as indicator of temperamental differences

Abstract

With verbal and quantitative scores commonly available, the correlation of the difference between these two ability scores (VQDF) and temperamental differences would be of interest to clinicians and researchers. Previous research has suggested such correlations exist, although the personality measures, subject characteristics and methods of determining VQDF have varied widely. In the present study VQDF (verbal minus quantitative) scores are correlated with personality (16PF and HSPQ) and vocational interest scores for males and females in both high school and college populations. Results show consistent trends for correlations of the VQDF with a number of personality and vocational interest variables: high verbal persons are more tenderminded, bold, less anxious and similar to lawyers; high quantitative persons are more guilt prone, anxious, tough-minded and similar in interests to mathematicians. Results are discussed in relation to age difference. Arguments are presented for use of this methodology for studying VQDF and personality correlations. An example for the clinical use of these results is given.