A Bayesian Model for the Study of Interpersonal Perception

• Activity Number: 218
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: IMS
• Author(s): Paramjit S. Gill*+
• Companies: UBC Okanagan
• Keywords: Target accuracy ; Markov chain Monte Carlo ; Social relations model ; WinBUGS ; Reciprocity ; Dyadic processes

Abstract

Accuracy in interpersonal perception is a fundamental and one of the oldest issues in social and personal psychology. Are people's perceptions of others valid? This is the most obvious question in the field of interpersonal perception, yet, surprisingly, the most difficult to study. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, the study of individual differences in the accuracy of social perception became a dominant area of research. But Cronbach and others argued that a comprehensive understanding of accuracy required more sophisticated procedures than those available at that time.

A fully Bayesian approach is proposed to the analysis of accuracy and mutuality in interpersonal perceptions. The Bayesian analysis is based on social relations model (SRM) formulation. Inference is straightforward using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. An Example will be discussed to highlight the use of Bayesian analysis of interpersonal attraction data.