Objective personality tests Flashcards
Personality def
A person’s unique and usual pattern of behavior, feelings and thoughts
Content of personality: (3)
Behavior, Affect, Cognition
Personality Traits def
Relatively enduring dispositions to act, think, or feel in a certain manner in any given circumstance and that distinguish one person from another.
Multivariate historical tradition of personality
To understand personality of individuals, you have to consider all personality traits as one. (A person cannot be described with only one trait)
=> NEO-PR, as other personality tests, follows from multivariate approach
Structure of traits
Identification of significant dimensions (attributes) along which individuals vary from one another
-> Characterize the covariation among these personality attributes among individuals
Lexical tradition of personality
Most important traits represented by single words. Origin of NEO-PR relies on lexical tradition.
Lexical hypothesis
If an idea is important for pple, they’ll have a word that will express this concept.
-> The more important the concept, the more word exist for this concept
How do we prove lexical hypothesis?
Factor analysis used to synthesize dictionary information.
Goal = Identify the smallest number of factors or groups of adjectives that represent the widest variety of adjectives in the language
Are Big Five Distinct Categories or a Continuum?
Continuum.
-> Labels are used categorically; the leave behind important information
-> Labels apply more strongly to those at the extreme ends
NEO: Construction (history)
- 1978: Included only 3 factors - N, E, O (no scales for A and C) and 18 facets
- 1985: A and C added: First NEO-PR
- 1992 manual: Facet scales available for all factors + Included the short version (NEO-FFI) + Rational Scale Construction (supported by factor analysis)
NEO-PI-R - Psychometric properties: Reliability -Internal consistency
Traits: .86-.92
Facets: .56-.81 -> Cuz fewer items to measure each of the facets (normal range)
NEO-PI-R - Psychometric properties: Test-retest reliability
High but bit weaker as time interval extends.
- 3 month → .75-.83
- 6-year N,E,O → .68-.83
- 3-year A,C → .63 & .79
NEO-PI-R - Psychometric properties: Convergent Validity
Self-spouse agreement (2 forms of NEO-PR: Self and Other rated)
N,E,O,A,C → .60, .73, .65, .62, .63: Moderate to large convergent validity
NEO-PI-R - Psychometric properties: Discriminant Validity
Sometimes scales are NOT independent (C & A)!
Latest version of the test? Date & characteristics
NEO-PI-3. Published in 2005.
- 240 items, description of behaviors rated on 5-point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
- Age range: **14-99 **(norms for adolescents)
In NEO-PI, raw scores converted to ______
T-scores (M=50, SD=10)
Application of NEO-PI (2)
(1) Mostly research on basic personality
(2) Limited usefulness in clinical or other applied settings
NEO-PI issues (2)
(1) Aquiescence: Tentency to agree with statements
-> Half reverse keyed items
(2) Social desirability: Tendency to portray self in a socially desirable way - Construct validity problem
What’s NEO-PI’s recommendation to combat acquiescence bias?
If more than 150 items are ‘agree or strongly agee’ profile must be interpreted with caution.
NEO-PI-R Interpretation
Test of NORMAL personality, not psychopathology. BUT Research on how combination of scores → psychopathology
- E.g. Paranoid can be identified by very HIGH neuroticism, LOW extraversion, LOW openness, LOW agreeableness
MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory def
Self-report measure to aid in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.
=> The most used and thoroughly researched personality test since 1960s
=> Consistent with then common psychiatric perspectives on abnormal personality characteristics
MMPI first published in ____. Current version = ___
Early 1940s; MMPI-3 (2020)
MMPI: How were the Original Clinical scales made? characteristics & approach (3)
- Empirical approach.
- Final item pool = 550 sample items
- Response scale: True or False or Cannot say
- Primary normative sample = 724 Minnesota “normals”
General steps in Development of most clinical scales
Empirical approach
Choose 2 groups.
- Administer item pool to large group: psychiatric & normative
- Select a diagnostic group
- Compare endorsement for each item of selected group to normative group
MMPI: “Neurotic” Triad
- Scale 1: Hypochondriasis (Numerous physical symptoms)
- Scale 2: Depression (Sadness, loss of energy, severe depression)
- Scale 3: Hysteria (Physical symptoms in response to stress)
MMPI: “Psychotic” Tetrad
- Scale 6: Paranoia (Resentful and suspicious of others, delusions of persecution)
- Scale 7: Psychasthenia (Rumination, Obsessive-Compulsive)
- Scale 8: Schizophrenia (Withdrawn, reclusive, bizarre thinking)
- Scale 9: Hypomania (Impulsive, distractible, emotional excitement)
Scales: MMPI (10)
Scale 0: Social introversion
Scale 1: Hypochondriasis
Scale 2: Depression
Scale 3: Hysteria
Scale 4: Psychopathic Deviate
Scale 5: Masculinity-Femininity
Scale 6: Paranoia
Scale 7: Psychasthenia
Scale 8: Schizophrenia
Scale 9: Hypomania
Validity scales in MMPI (6)
(1) L(Lie) Scale: Endorse too few items which express common frailties - SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS (denying common human weaknesses)
(2) F Scale (Infrequency scale): Endorse items which few people endorse
(3) K Scale (Defensiveness Scale): Denial of more subtle, personal, or psychological difficulties that may be less obvious but still significant.
-> More about defensiveness—the person may be hiding or minimizing psychological problems or discomfort.
-> defensively hiding emotional or personal struggles.
(4) new-FB (Frequent back): infrequent responding in 2nd half of the test
(5) new-VRIN: Assesses random responding (if they don’t answer in similar way to similar questions, random responding)
(6) new-TRIN: Acquiescence bias (pairs of items with opposite content => should have different responses)
Interpretation MMPI scores before vs after
- Before: 70+ = may have clinical significance; Today: 65
- Before: look at any elevation in any of the scale (1 most elevated scale); now: Interpret scores in multiple subscales
MMPI-2 (4)
(1) Re-standardization: More appropriate normative sample
(2) Updated item content (567 items)
(3) Same clinical scales but 5 and 0 not psychopathology
(4) 3 new validity scales (FB, VRIN, TRIN)
MMPI New validity scale: FB
Frequent Back:
(before = infrequent responding in 1st half of the test);
- this = infrequent responding in 2nd half of the test
MMPI New validity scale: VRIN
Assesses random responding
For each scale, you have 2 items with similar content (should be similar) => if they don’t answer in similar way, random responding
MMPI New validity scale: TRIN
Measure of acquiescence: Pairs of items with opposite content => should have different responses
If agree to both = acquiescence
MMPI also have ________ (~60) based on _______
Content scales (measuring particular constructs); Rational test construction (Based on judgment of what items seem to be measuring)
=> E.g. anxiety, alcoholism scale, Obsessiveness, Family problems, Negative treatment indicators
Strength MMPI-2
Large, more diverse normative sample
Weaknesses MMPI-2 (2)
(1) Criterion groups now dated
(2) Considerable item overlap reduces discriminant validity
