Critiquing personality measurements

Question 1

strengths of projective tests

Answer 1

-Provides qualitative information about individual’s personality
-Information can facilitate therapy

Question 2

limitations of projective tests

Answer 2

• Scoring is highly subjective
• Fails to produce consistent results
  -Poor at predicting future behaviour

Question 3

strengths of self report inventories

Answer 3

standardised and use established personality traits

Question 4

why may self report inventories be useful in the workplace

Answer 4

predict behaviour and employee fit

Question 5

limitations of self report inventories

Answer 5

social desirability bias
loss of meaning due to high numbers of items

Question 6

what is the Barnum effect

Answer 6

When someone believes personality descriptions specifically apply to them, while the description applies to mostly everyone e.g. horoscopes

Question 7

how is faking controlled for in self report inventories

Answer 7

safeguard questions e.g. do you lie
judge based in response time
ask for written elaboration

Question 8

what issues arise with long tests

Answer 8

ppts become bored and may select random answers

Question 9

how is boredom in questionnaires controlled for

Answer 9

surveillance and stressing importance of questions

Question 10

what is social desirability

Answer 10

Extent to which people present themselves favourably

Question 11

what do likert scales do

Answer 11

Keep scales between 4 and 7 points
Clearly indicate what a rating scale means using anchor points

Question 11

when does social desirability often become an issue

Answer 11

problematic or illegal behaviours e.g. substance use or sexual activity