In recent years there has been an increased interest in measuring animal personality. It is argued that personality in animals is expressed through the behaviours they display. In this study personality has been investigated in a group of eight captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Data from focal samplings were analysed by using behavioural codings and the Five-factor model consisting of Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. The results revealed that the dolphins display both distinct personality differences as well as similarities in these factors. By calculating coefficients of association it was found that the dolphins also prefer the company of certain individuals over others. Knowledge of individual personality differences and its implications can be helpful in aspects such as management and reintroduction programs, evolution and genetics and in providing a complementary perspective to explain other behavioural and cognitive studies.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka sambandet mellan de fem personlighetsdimensionerna; neuroticism, extraversion, öppenhet, sympatiskhet och samvetsgrannhet, och om de kan predicera vuxnas alkoholkonsumtion och alkoholrelaterade problem i ett svenskt urval. En webbenkät skickades till ett urval av anställda inom socialförvaltningen i Stockholms Län. Resultaten tyder på ett negativt samband mellan öppenhet och frekvensen av högkonsumtion av alkohol samt alkoholrelaterade problem. De indikerar vidare ett positivt samband mellan extraversion och kvantiteten av alkoholkonsumtionen vid ett typiskt tillfälle man dricker alkohol samt frekvensen av högkonsumtion av alkohol. / The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the five personality dimensions; neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, and if they can predict adults alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a Swedish sample. A webbased-survey was sent to a sample of municipality employees in Stockholms county. The results indicate a negative association between openness and the frequency of binge drinking and alcohol-related problems. They further imply a positive association between extraversion and the quantity of alcohol consumption at a typical instance when alcohol is consumed and the frequency of binge drinking.

The aim of this study was to investigate people’s ability to detect deception and if variables such as birth order, personality and suspiciousness affect this ability. The study was conducted at Växjö University with students as participants (n = 278). A film of two people arguing both for and against their own personal opinions was constructed and participants assessed credibility on a categorical scale (Honest/Dishonest). Neither birth order nor level of suspiciousness revealed significant differences as pertains to credibility attribution. In this study, personality traits showed small differences in that a low degree of Conscientiousness and possibly a high degree of Openness can predict lie bias (more correct classified lies). This study also showed that a truth and lie bias is predicted by positive respectively negative opinions. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka eventuella skillnader mellan människor och deras förmåga att upptäcka vilseledande information. Syskonplacering, personlighet och misstänksamhet ställdes mot deltagarnas trovärdighetsklassificeringar. Studien genomfördes på Växjö universitet och deltagarna bestod av studenter (n = 278). En film med två personer vilka argumenterade för och emot sina personliga åsikter konstruerades där deltagarna bedömde trovärdighet genom en kategorisk skala (Ärlig/Oärlig). Inga skillnader fanns mellan varken syskonplacering eller misstänksamhet och trovärdighetsbedömning. Personlighet gav små skillnader i trovärdighetsbedömning genom att låg grad av Conscientiousness och eventuellt hög grad av Openness predicerade lögnbias (fler korrekt klassificerade lögner) i denna studie. Studien visade även att sannings- och lögnbias prediceras av positiva respektive negativa åsikter i talarens påståenden.

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate people’s ability to detect deception and if variables such as birth order, personality and suspiciousness affect this ability. The study was conducted at Växjö University with students as participants (n = 278). A film of two people arguing both for and against their own personal opinions was constructed and participants assessed credibility on a categorical scale (Honest/Dishonest). Neither birth order nor level of suspiciousness revealed significant differences as pertains to credibility attribution. In this study, personality traits showed small differences in that a low degree of Conscientiousness and possibly a high degree of Openness can predict lie bias (more correct classified lies). This study also showed that a truth and lie bias is predicted by positive respectively negative opinions.</p> / <p>Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka eventuella skillnader mellan människor och deras förmåga att upptäcka vilseledande information. Syskonplacering, personlighet och misstänksamhet ställdes mot deltagarnas trovärdighetsklassificeringar. Studien genomfördes på Växjö universitet och deltagarna bestod av studenter (n = 278). En film med två personer vilka argumenterade för och emot sina personliga åsikter konstruerades där deltagarna bedömde trovärdighet genom en kategorisk skala (Ärlig/Oärlig). Inga skillnader fanns mellan varken syskonplacering eller misstänksamhet och trovärdighetsbedömning. Personlighet gav små skillnader i trovärdighetsbedömning genom att låg grad av Conscientiousness och eventuellt hög grad av Openness predicerade lögnbias (fler korrekt klassificerade lögner) i denna studie. Studien visade även att sannings- och lögnbias prediceras av positiva respektive negativa åsikter i talarens påståenden.</p>

Bakgrund:CAPM räcker i flera tillfällen inte till för att estimera framtida avkastning. Vissa av prisavvikelsernafrån CAPM är väldokumenterade och har bestått över tid, vilket har lett till uppkomsten avkorrigerande faktorer. En modell som använder sig av två sådana korrigerande faktorer är Fama ochFrenchs tre-faktormodell. Den har testats flertalet gånger på den svenska marknaden där den visat gehögre förklaringsgrader än CAPM. År 2012 samt år 2014 presenterades två nya multifaktormodeller,som genom test på börsmarknaden i USA lyckats fånga upp prisavvikelser bättre än trefaktormodellen.Syfte:Denna studie ämnar undersöka om Fama och Frenchs fem-faktormodell samt Hue, Xue, Zhang´s Qfaktormodelltillför förklaringsvärde för Stockholmsbörsens avkastning i jämförelse med Fama-Frenchs trefaktormodell. Studien analyserar även modellernas konjunkturkänslighet samt faktorernasbetydelse.Metod:Forskningsprocessen är av deduktiv karaktär. Befintliga teorier i form av multifaktormodeller förprissättning av aktier testas med hjälp av empiriska observationer från den svenska marknaden.Studien tillämpar ett kvantitativt tillvägagångssätt och ekonometriska verktyg används för attsäkerställa statistisk signifikans.Resultat:Studien visar att Q-faktormodellen inte tillför förklaringsvärde jämfört med FF3M. FF5M ger resultatsom marginellt överträffar FF3M gällande dess förklaringsgrad. Anledningen till att FF5M presterarbättre bör rimligen ligga i faktorn HML. Resultaten visar också att modellerna är instabila i kortatidsperioder men tenderar ge bättre prediktioner i lågkonjunktur relativt till högkonjunktur. / Background:CAPM isn’t in some cases sufficient for explaining expected stock return. Some of CAPM´smispricing errors are well documented and time persistent which has led rise to the usage of correctivefactors. One model that make use of two such corrective factors are the Fama and French three factormodel. It´s been comprehensively tested on the Swedish market where it has shown to achieve higherexplanatory power then the CAPM. In the year of 2012 and 2014 two new Asset Pricing Models wereintroduced, which on the US stock market better captured many of the best known anomalies.Aim:The aim of the study is to test if the Fama and French five factor model as well as the Q-factor model,could contribute to increased explanatory power beyond the three factor model. The study also analyzethe models cyclical sensitivity as well as the individual factor significance.MethodologyThe knowledge building process takes a deductive approach. Existing theories in the form of assetpricing models are tested based on empirical observations in the Swedish market. The research take aquantitative approach and make use of econometric tools in order to ensure statistic accuratesignificance.Result:This research shows no contribution of explanatory power for the Q-factor model, beyond thatachieved from the Fama and French three factor model. The five factor model achieve marginallyhigher explanatory power compared to the tree factor model. The most likely reason why FF5Machieve better results than the Q-factor model is believed to lie in the usage of the factor HML. Theresults also shows that all of the tested models are very instable when used in a short time perspective.Although there are some clear indication on increasing explanatory power in recession compared to inan ongoing bull market.

The construct of perfectionism is related to many important outcome variables. However, the term “perfectionism” has been defined in many different ways, and items comprising the different existing scales appear to be very different in content. The overarching aim of the present set of studies was to help clarify the specific unidimensional constructs underlying what is called “perfectionism”. First, trained raters reliably sorted items from existing measures of perfectionism into nine dimensions. An exploratory factor analysis, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis on an independent sample, resulted in a 9 scale, 61 item measure, called the Measure of Constructs Underlying Perfectionism (MCUP). The nine scales were internally consistent and stable across time, and they were differentially associated with relevant measures of personality and psychosocial functioning in theoretically meaningful ways.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka samband mellan personlighetsdimensioner och upplevd stress på arbetsplatser utifrån fem-faktormodellen samt krav-kontrollmodellen. 128 deltagare deltog i enkätundersökningen; 58 män och 66 kvinnor mellan åldern 20-69 år. Studien var en tvärsnittsstudie med självskattningsfrågor och urvalet gjordes genom ett bekvämlighetsurval. Enkäterna besvarades på arbetsplatser i Örebro, Eskilstuna, Västerås och Stockholm. Tidigare forskning påvisar samband mellan personlighet och stress, men få undersöker detta utifrån krav-kontroll-stödmodellen. Föreliggande studie undersöker detta utifrån graden av krav och kontroll. T-test visade skillnader utifrån kön, envägs ANOVA visade skillnader i yrkestitel och ålder. Korrelationsanalyser visade positivt samband mellan krav och upplevd stress samt negativt samband mellan kontroll och upplevd stress. Resultatet visade positivt samband mellan agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness och krav samt positivt samband mellan openness och kontroll. / The purpose of the study was to examine correlations between personality traits and perceived stress at work places based upon the Five Factor model and demand-control model. 128 participants attended; 58 men and 66 women aged 20-69 years. The study was cross-sectional with self-report measures and convenience sampling. Surveys were answered at work places in Örebro, Eskilstuna, Västerås and Stockholm. Previous research show correlations between personality and stress, but few examine this through the demand-control-support model. Present study examine this through the demand-control model. T-test showed differences between gender, one-way ANOVA showed differences in occupation and age. There was a positive correlation between demand and perceived stress and a negative correlation between control and perceived stress. The results showed positive correlations between agreeableness, openness, conscientiousnness and demand, positive correlations between openness and control.

This paper investigates the impact of social norms on the performance and valuation of “controversial stocks”- publicly traded companies involved in the production of Adult Entertainment, Alcohol, Gambling, Nuclear Energy, Tobacco, Uranium, and Weapons. Their performance and valuation is directly compared with compare non-controversial stocks. The paper consider an international sample of 941 controversial stocks. Employing a multi-factor performance measure, seven countries provide a significant outperformance of controversial stocks across all relevant control factors. The valuation analysis, however, provide mixed results on a country level, but on the global market-to-book ratio provide a significant overvaluation of controversial stocks compared to comparable non-controversial stocks, which contradicts the prediction of an undervaluation.JEL classification:

Self-determination theory (SDT), a motivation theory, consists of motivation types: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation, where the social environment is important. SDT’s motivation orientations are about individual differences in people’s tendencies to orient towards environments. The five factor model (FFM), a personality theory, consists of five factors and can be grouped into two metatraits; plasticity: extraversion and openness; and stability: agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Studies show that SDT’s motivation orientations and the factors of FFM significantly covary. Intrinsic motivation and trait plasticity have similar features; the desire for exploration, engagement, well-being, and dopamine as neural correlate. The thesis reviews the role of dopamine as the neural correlate of intrinsic motivation and trait plasticity – a relation between motivation and personality. Dopamine and trait plasticity function to attain rewards of uncertainty and explore, but uncertainty is threatening. Salience coding neurons, value coding neurons and a combination of both are related, respectively, to rewards of information, specific rewards and the value of any uncertainty. Intrinsic motivation is related to the value coding neurons, flow via D2 receptors, the salience network, and the seeking system. Conclusions: there are many appealing similarities and rational that relate constructs/mechanisms – motivation is related to personality; can there even be a common construct? However; results based on proposed theories, neuroscientific quality issues, early inconsistent findings of intrinsic motivation mechanisms, and trait stability are speculated to, also, be needed to model intrinsic motivation. Unifying cross-disciplinary work and proposed theories of neural correlates are encouraged.

Revisorns oberoende är sedan länge ett omdiskuterat ämne. Brist på oberoende har tidigare orsakat flera större företagsskandaler och lett till att allmänheten förlorat förtroende för revisionsprofessionen. Därefter har ett flertal förändringar skett genom att olika regleringar har införts, vilka bland annat har syftat till att stärka oberoendet. Syftet med denna studie är att förklara huruvida det finns ett samband mellan revisorers personlighetsdrag och deras förmåga att bibehålla oberoendet. Denna studie undersöker hypoteser som har skapats utifrån befintlig teori och har därmed en kvantitativ ansats. För att undersöka revisorers personlighetsdrag har femfaktormodellen använts, som består av fem olika dimensioner vilka undersöker en individs grundläggande personlighetsdrag. För att undersöka oberoendet har tre vinjettfrågor tillämpats. Vinjettfrågorna lyckades inte mäta graden av oberoende tillsammans och således bör studiens resultat tolkas med försiktighet.  Resultaten av denna studie indikerar att personlighetsdragen neuroticism, öppenhet för erfarenhet och vänlighet skulle kunna ha en påverkan på revisorers förmåga att bibehålla oberoendet. Sambanden som återfinns är emellertid svaga. Vidare återfinns inga samband mellan extraversion samt samvetsgrannhet och oberoendet, vilket talar för att personlighetsdragen påverkar oberoendet i mycket låg utsträckning. Slutligen är revisorers personlighetsdrag ett forskningsområde som kan vidareutvecklas. / The independence of the auditor is since a long time a debated topic. Lack of independence has earlier caused several major corporate scandals and led to the public losing trust in the audit profession. Afterwards, several changes have been made through implementation of various regulations which among other things aim to strengthen the independence. The purpose of this paper is to explain whether there is a relationship between auditors’ personality traits and their ability to remain independent. This study tests hypotheses which have been created through existing theory and thus, has a quantitative approach. To examine auditors’ personality traits, the five-factor model of personality traits has been used which consists of five dimensions that explain an individual's fundamental personality traits. To examine the independence, three vignette questions have been used. The vignette questions did not manage to measure the level of independence together and consequently, the study’s results need to be interpreted with caution.  The findings of the study indicate that the personality traits neuroticism, openness to new experience and agreeableness might have an impact on the auditors’ ability to maintain the independence. However, the found relationships are weak. Furthermore, no relationships can be found between extraversion, conscientiousness and the independence which suggests that personality traits affect the independence to a very low extent. Lastly, the auditors’ personality traits are a research area that can be further developed.