Chapter 8

Question 1

The tendency to consistently behave in specific ways is termed a(n)

a. behavioural specificity.
b. personality trait.
c. habit.
d. objective characteristic.

Answer 1

b. personality trait.

Question 2

Many personality measures are called objective personality tests because

a. they always use the same scoring system.
b. they are based on the unique personality of the client taking the test.
c. objective observers rate the behaviour and personality of the individual.
d. they are not subject to mood or other contextual influences in testing.

Answer 2

a. they always use the same scoring system.

Question 3

A self-report measure, derived from descriptive characteristics of an experience or an event rather than from personality theories in which the person is asked to rate the frequency, intensity, or duration or particular behaviours or experiences is known as a(n)

a. behaviour checklist.
b. projective test.
c. intelligence test.
d. objective personality test.

Answer 3

a. behaviour checklist.

Question 4

Most personality tests are based on __________ and are often called ___________ personality tests.
a. self-report; subjective
b. scoring by the test administrator; subjective
c. self-report; objective
d. scoring by the test administrator; objective

Answer 4

c. self-report; objective

Question 5

___________ are comprised of drawings or responses to ambiguous stimuli, and are based on the assumption that responses reveal information about ____________.

a. Behaviour checklists; the frequency, intensity, or duration of behaviours
b. Behaviour checklists; personality structure
c. Projective tests; personality structure
d. Projective tests; the frequency, intensity, or duration of behaviours

Answer 5

c. Projective tests; personality structure

Question 6

Projective tests are used mainly to make inferences about a person’s

a. developmental history.
b. personality structure.
c. intelligence.
d. likelihood of faking good.

Answer 6

b. personality structure.

Question 7

Debate over whether personality traits or contextual factors are more responsible for an individual’s behaviour is known as the

a. person-context debate.
b. individual-situation debate.
c. person-situation debate.
d. individual-context debate.

Answer 7

c. person-situation debate.

Question 8

Which psychologist ignited the person-situation debate by suggesting that situational factors may influence behaviour more than personality?

a. Albert Bandura
b. Matthew Sanders
c. Theodore Millon
d. Walter Mischel

Answer 8

d. Walter Mischel

Question 9

Walter Mischel’s (1968) literature review of research into the link between personality traits and actual behaviour found

a. a strong correlation.
b. a modest correlation.
c. an inverse correlation.
d. a correlation that was moderated by age.

Answer 9

b. a modest correlation.

Question 10

Alicia has been referred to a psychologist due to complaints about anxiety. In the interview she reports that her singing teacher complains she is shy and withdrawn. She also reports that she is an active member of her religious community. Contemporary clinical psychologists view this as:

a. evidence of the problem of multi-informant assessment.
b. evidence that Alicia is an unreliable informant.
c. evidence of conditions in which symptoms are less severe.
d. evidence of the need for projective tests to circumvent self-report biases.

Answer 10

c. evidence of conditions in which symptoms are less severe.

Question 11

_________’s early theories postulated that the unconscious aspect of our personality is something that can be accessed through considerable conscious effort.

a. Freud
b. Jung
c. Wechsler
d. Rogers

Answer 11

a. Freud

Question 12

Wilson and Dunn’s (2004) review of research related to self-knowledge found:

a. evidence for the usage of conscious suppression.
b. evidence for the concept of repression.
c. introspection enhances the accuracy of self-understanding.
d. no evidence for the usage of conscious suppression.

Answer 12

a. evidence for the usage of conscious suppression.

Question 13

In their review of research on self-knowledge, Wilson and Dunn (2004) suggested that we can learn more about ourselves by __________. However, social cognitive research suggests that self-knowledge can be increased by _____________.

a. introspection; attending to how others view us
b. attending to how others view us; intentionally observing our own behaviours and decisions
c. intentionally observing our own behaviours and decisions; introspection
d. attending to how others view us; introspection

Answer 13

b. attending to how others view us; intentionally observing our own behaviours and decisions

Question 14

Most personality inventories include validity scales to

a. ensure that that the inventory is testing the construct it was designed to test.
b. ensure that the inventory is internally consistent.
c. ensure that the inventory is psychometrically sound.
d. detect whether a person is purposely presenting themselves in a positive or negative way.

Answer 14

d. detect whether a person is purposely presenting themselves in a positive or negative way.

Question 15

Deliberately emphasizing positive characteristics when completing a personality inventory is referred to as

a. faking bad.
b. impression management.
c. faking good.
d. positivity bias.

Answer 15

c. faking good.

Question 16

Separated parents are in the middle of a difficult custody case. In completing a personality inventory in a custody evaluation, one parent downplays his/her anger management problems. This is an example of

a. maligning.
b. faking bad.
c. negative image management.
d. faking good.

Answer 16

d. faking good.

Question 17

Validity scales focus on three possible tendencies that could distort the answers given by test takers including:

a. faking good, faking bad, and inconsistent responses
b. faking bad, inconsistent responses, and incorrect answers
c. faking good, faking bad, and incorrect answers
d. faking good, inconsistent responses, and incorrect answers.

Answer 17

a. faking good, faking bad, and inconsistent responses

Question 18

Deliberately emphasizing negative characteristics when completing a personality inventory is referred to as

a. malingering.
b. negative image management.
c. maligning.
d. undermining.

Answer 18

a. malingering.

Question 19

The Test of Memory Malingering, designed to assess exaggeration of memory deficits among individuals with potential ______________, has demonstrated ________ accuracy in identifying malingering.

a. behaviour problems; high
b. neurological impairments; high
c. psychological problems; low
d. physical impairments; low

Answer 19

b. neurological impairments; high

Question 20

Research comparing the susceptibility of projective tests and self-reports of personality to faking responses

a. is inconclusive.
b. indicates that projective tests are consistently more easily faked than are self- report measures.
c. indicates that self-report measures are consistently more easily faked than are projective tests.
d. suggests that the ambiguous nature of projective tests makes it difficult for clients to exaggerate or minimize psychological problems.

Answer 20

a. is inconclusive.

Question 21

When conducting an assessment with a client from an ethnic minority background for whom no culturally validated measures are available, the psychologist should:

a. avoid using scores, or indicate that the scores may not provide an optimal assessment of the client’s functioning.
b. indicate in the assessment report that accuracy and validity of results may be less than ideal.
c. use the test only to aid in generating hypotheses about the client’s functioning.
d. all of the above.

Answer 21

d. all of the above.

Question 22

22. In translating and adapting a test for use in a second language, back translation refers to:

a. Translation of the items into the second language, then translation back into the first language by a differed translator and comparison of the two versions.
b. conducting pilot testing of the translated measure to ensure it is comprehensible.
c. re-standardizing scores on the measure using norms specific to the translated measure.
d. establishing construct validity between the two version to determine whether the instruments measure the same psychological qualities in both languages.

Answer 22

a. Translation of the items into the second language, then translation back into the first language by a differed translator and comparison of the two versions.

Question 23

After decades of validity research and frequent clinical use, there is ____________ scientific evidence that MMPI or Rorschach scores have a meaningful impact on the outcome of psychological services.

a. overwhelming
b. adequate
c. virtually no
d. an unsubstantiated amount of

Answer 23

c. virtually no

Question 24

A study by Lima and colleagues (2005) found that providing clinicians with access to patient MMPI-2 data at the beginning of treatment

a. impacted the number of sessions attended, but had no impact on patient improvement.
b. did not impact the number of sessions attended, but positively impacted patient improvement.
c. impacted the number of sessions attended and negatively impacted patient improvement.
d. did not impact either the number of sessions attended or on patient improvement.

Answer 24

d. did not impact either the number of sessions attended or on patient improvement.

Question 25

Which approach to test construction involves retaining items that discriminate between two clearly defined groups?

a. Item approach
b. Content approach
c. Empirical criterion-keying approach
d. Construct approach

Answer 25

c. Empirical criterion-keying approach

Question 26

Which approach to test construction involves developing items specifically to tap the construct being assessed?

a. Item approach
b. Content approach
c. Empirical criterion-keying approach
d. Construct approach

Answer 26

b. Content approach

Question 27

In the MMPI-2 normative sample, individuals with lower education and lower income were slightly underrepresented. In interpreting results on the MMPI-2 for those with lower education and lower income clinicians must be aware that the:

a. cut-off scores for determining presence of clinical problems may be too low.
b. test is likely to yield a high number of false positives.
c. test may overpathologize these individuals.
d. all of the above.

Answer 27

d. all of the above.

Question 28

The tendency to exaggerate or overestimate the extent of pathology is known as ______________ the patient.

a. improperly coding
b. overpathologizing
c. overmedicalizing
d. overgeneralizing

Answer 28

b. overpathologizing

Question 29

The MCMI-III is designed to measure

a. clinical personality patterns.
b. major clinical syndromes.
c. clinical personality patterns and major clinical syndromes.
d. personality functioning in a non-clinical population.

Answer 29

c. clinical personality patterns and major clinical syndromes.

Question 30

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV has the following limitation to its validity:

a. the normative sample was smaller than usual.
b. partly due to item overlap, the scale has a tendency to overpathologize individuals.
c. there is insufficient item overlap between scales to account for symptoms that appear in more than one disorder.
d. partly due to item overlap, the scale has a tendency to underestimate rates of pathology.

Answer 30

b. partly due to item overlap, the scale has a tendency to overpathologize individuals.

Question 31

In interpreting the results of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, a psychologist must to be aware that the MCMI-III tends to
a. underpathologize test-takers.
b. overpathologize test-takers.
c. Artificially diminish correlations between scales.
d. be more accurate in assessing some individuals than others.

Answer 31

b. overpathologize test-takers.

Question 32

The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory differs from the MCMI-IV in that it also assesses:

a. Expressed concerns, such a peer insecurity.
b. Personality styles and disorders.
c. Major clinical syndromes.
d. The suitability of the measure for adolescents not seeking mental health services.

Answer 32

a. Expressed concerns, such a peer insecurity.

Question 33

The Personality Assessment Inventory is intended for ___________ and requires a Grade ____ reading level.

a. youth and adults; 4
b. adults; 4
c. youth and adults; 8
d. adults; 8

Answer 33

b. adults; 4

Question 34

The overall reliability of the Personality Assessment Inventory scales is superior to the

a. Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV.
b. Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory.
c. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
d. All of the above.

Answer 34

d. All of the above.

Question 35

The most commonly used measure of normal personality is:

a. The NEO Personality Inventory–3
b. The California Psychological Inventory
c. Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory
d. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Answer 35

a. The NEO Personality Inventory–3

Question 36

The NEO Personality Inventory-3 is based on what model of personality?

a. Cognitive-social
b. Five-factor
c. Personality type categories
d. Triarchic theory of personality

Answer 36

b. Five-factor

Question 37

Concerns about the need to use measures that are inexpensive, not too time-consuming, and with direct and immediate relevance to treatment planning and monitoring have led to the increased use of:

a. projective tests.
b. behaviour and symptom checklists.
c. objective personality tests.
d. structured clinical interviews.

Answer 37

b. behaviour and symptom checklists.

Question 38

38. The Achenbach scales yield scores on which two broad types of problems?

a. Physical and mental health problems.
b. Cognitive and social problems.
c. Internalizing and externalizing problems.
d. Personality and Axis I problems.

Answer 38

c. Internalizing and externalizing problems.

Question 39

The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised is the most widely used general measure of

a. depression.
b. anxiety.
c. behaviour problems.
d. general psychological distress.

Answer 39

d. general psychological distress.

Question 40

In using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, psychologists must be aware that

a. most subscales do not adequately measure the constructs they are designed to assess.
b. there is limited evidence of sensitivity to treatment-related changes.
c. there is insufficient overlap among the subscales.
d. the scale yields an underestimate of psychopathology.

Answer 40

a. most subscales do not adequately measure the constructs they are designed to assess.

Question 41

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)

a. does not provide sufficient detail to determine whether a person meets criteria for diagnosis of a mood disorder.
b. provides sufficient detail to determine whether a person meets the diagnostic criteria for a mood disorder.
c. does not have strong psychometric properties.
d. is unlikely to be an accurate tool for monitoring treatment, as scores remain constant across repeated administrations.

Answer 41

a. does not provide sufficient detail to determine whether a person meets criteria for diagnosis of a mood disorder.

Question 42

Research indicates that when examiners use Exner’s Comprehensive System (CS) for administering and scoring the Rorschach test that

a. administration errors are still easy to make, and can impact examinees’ responses.
b. administration errors much less common when using this system for administering and scoring the test.
c. the norms for the test underestimate rates of pathology within the nonpatient population.
d. the Rorschach is an appropriate tool to use with children and adolescents, yielding valid results.

Answer 42

a. administration errors are still easy to make, and can impact examinees’ responses.

Question 43

Research indicates that the Rorschach Inkblot test is likely to

a. underpathologize patients.
b. overpathologize patients.
c. be very accurate at detecting mood and anxiety problems.
d. be valid for use with children and youth.

Answer 43

b. overpathologize patients.

Question 44

A self-report checklist designed to evaluate recent (in the past two weeks) symptoms of depression in children is the:

a. Beck Depression Inventory-II
b. Children’s Depression Inventory 2
c. Outcome Questionnaire
d. Symptom Checklist-90-Revised

Answer 44

b. Children’s Depression Inventory 2

Question 45

Research findings suggest that the Rorschach should not be used to

a. examine thought disorder.
b. aid in the development of clinical hypotheses.
c. provide diagnostic information.
d. assess personality structure.

Answer 45

c. provide diagnostic information.

Question 46

Because of the concerns about the quality of the Comprehensive System (CS) norms, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing norms that meet the standards expected of psychological tests. To that end, a series of norms called _____________ has been published that draws on data from over 5,800 people from 16 countries.

a. Rorschach Performance Samples
b. The International Reference Samples
c. The Youth Self-Report
d. Symptom Checklist-90

Answer 46

b. The International Reference Samples