| Book Edition | 8th Edition |
| Author(s) | Funder |
| ISBN | 9780393421781 |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton |
| Subject | Psychology |
A study denoted how the living arrangements of college-goers can be observed and compared with the independent measures of their personality on several dimensions. The living space of an individual high on the trait of conscientiousness turned out to be tidy and organized, whereas that of an individual low on the trait of conscientiousness turned out to be messy and unorganized. The way in which an individual has created and maintained their living space is uniquely informative about their personality traits.
However, one's living space is determined by multiple extraneous factors that have not been accounted for, including one's personality, gift pieces from significant others, the number of people who share the same room, and the role of others maintaining the space. As a result, the causality between one's living arrangements and personality attributes cannot be directly ascertained.
The data pertaining to life outcomes can be used to study the personality of an individual. The life outcomes or "L" data is verifiable and is based on real-life facts, such as one's educational background, marital status, and monthly compensation. The L data also reflects how individuals act in their immediate environment or physical space. The condition of one's living space indicates how an individual has managed or organized it, which is further reflective of how they themselves are or how it characterizes their personality.
Conscientiousness, as a personality trait, is one of the big 5 factors of personality that is associated with an individual's tendency to be goal-directed, act responsibly, be organized and diligent, control their impulses, and plan effectively.