PsychologyAugust 24, 2026

heterotrait

HET-uh-ro-trayt

Definition

A measurement used in statistical validity analysis that compares the correlation between different traits measured by the same method; specifically, it assesses whether distinct constructs are sufficiently different from one another.

Etymology

The word is a hybrid construction combining the Greek prefix 'hetero-' (meaning 'different' or 'other') with the English word 'trait' (a distinguishing quality or characteristic).

In the news

In this article, the 'heterotrait-monotrait' (HTMT) ratio is used as a standard statistical benchmark to demonstrate that the different variables measured in the survey are distinct and not overlapping, confirming the validity of the study's model.

The psychological pathways to maritime English motivation: need satisfaction, frustration, and learning outcomes

Read the full article ↗

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