Structured Personality Assessment

Question 1

Symptom Checklist 90 - Revised

Answer 1

Designed to screen for psychological problems using DSM-IV criteria. Contains 9 dimensions, however these correlate so test cannot be used to diagnose specific conditions, only that a condition exists.

Question 2

MMPI-II

Answer 2

The most widely used personality test. Consists of 567 yes/no items. First 370 items must be used as they provide the 10 clinical and 3 validity scales.

Question 3

Clinical Scales of MMPI-II

Answer 3

Hypochondriasis, depression, masculinity, psychasthenia, paranoia, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, schizophrenia, mania and social introversion. Some scales are no longer clinical (eg masculinity which measures homosexuality), but items haven’t changed much since the original.

Question 4

Validity Scales of MMPI-II

Answer 4

Scales that assess whether people are being honest in their responses. Lie scale (make respondent look good but unlikely to truthfully answered), infrequency scale (high score may indicate malingering) and correction scale (measure of test taker attitude).

Question 5

California Psychological Inventory

Answer 5

Similar to MMPI-II but referenced to traits not clinical disorders. 17 personality dimension scales and 3 validity scales.

Question 6

16PF

Answer 6

Developed from Cattell’s model and designed for adults aged 16 and over. Provides scores on 16 personality traits, however long term test-retest reliability is low, so doesn’t measure stable elements.

Question 7

EPQ

Answer 7

Tests only stable traits (psychoticism, neuroticism and extraversion). Excellent reliability and validity. Adult version and child version.

Question 8

NEO-PI-R

Answer 8

Measures personality on five dimensions (openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism and extraversion). High reliability and validity.

Question 9

Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III

Answer 9

Combines personality types on two dimensions to develop four categories (clinical personality patterns, severe personality pathology, clinical syndromes and severe syndromes).

Question 10

Edwards Personal Preference Schedule

Answer 10

210 pairs of statements. Examinee chooses the option that is most characteristic of them. No norms, because the test is referenced to the individual.

Question 11

Personality Research Form

Answer 11

Similar to the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, but not forced choice. Also no norms.

Question 12

Jackson Personality Inventory

Answer 12

320 true/false items used with adolescents and adults. 15 scales based on personality and social psychology theory.

Question 13

Structured Personality Assessment

Answer 13

Written tests are used to measure personality. Four strategies to develop structured tests. Logical-content, criterion-group, factor-analytic and theoretical.

Question 14

Logical-content Strategy

Answer 14

Logic and reason dictate the content that is covered in the test. eg Woodworth Personal Data Sheet and Symptom Checklist 90.

Question 15

Criterion-group Strategy

Answer 15

A reference group is used as a standard for identifying which items will be included. eg MMPI-II and California Personality Inventory.

Question 16

Factor-analytic Strategy

Answer 16

Uses factor analysis to determine dimensions in a test. eg 16PF, EPQ and NEO-PI-R.

Question 17

Theoretical Strategy

Answer 17

Begins with a theory relating to the characteristic being measured and uses this to guide item construction. eg MCMI-III, Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, Jackson Personality Inventory and Personality Research Form.