The development of personality has long been an area of extreme interest to psychologists and psychoanalysts alike and many different theories of personality have developed over the years. From Sigmund Freud to B.F. Skinner, everyone seems to have not only an opinion of what personality is and how it develops but also an idea as to what is the best way to measure and report their findings. In order to test their theories, it was necessary to formulate methods of research that were effective, ethical and would provide a solid foundation for future personality research. Although both the clinical and...
to be influenced by the subjective expectations of the researcher.

In conclusion, it seems evident that these two research methods are both competing and complimentary. There will be times when one of the two methods will be preferred over the other. However, the data gathered by each is also valuable for future research by the other. As it progresses, the study of human personality may one day be able to develop a method that will incorporate both the clinical and the experimental methods, providing us with a research tool that would be both scientifically valid and personal in nature.