Deck 8: Personality Assessment

Question 1

The original MMPI included items that

A) were deemed by experts in the field to be relevant to a particular scale.
B) were answered differently by individuals who had particular diagnoses than by individuals with no diagnoses.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Answer 1

were answered differently by individuals who had particular diagnoses than by individuals with no diagnoses.

Question 2

A weakness of the factor analytic strategy of test construction is

A) its reliance on expert opinion over empirical data.
B) that items that measure the same thing may actually be measuring the wrong thing.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Answer 2

that items that measure the same thing may actually be measuring the wrong thing.

Question 3

A group of clinical psychologists is creating a new personality test by measuring correlations among items from pre-existing personality tests.They have theory-based hypotheses regarding the outcome of their procedure.They are apparently using the __________ approach to test construction.

A) confirmatory factor analytic
B) content validation
C) empirical criterion keying
D) exploratory factor analytic

Answer 3

confirmatory factor analytic

Question 4

Which of the following should have the least impact on our evaluation of a specific personality assessment measure?

A) how reliable and valid it is
B) how cost-effective it is
C) how long it has been in use
D) how useful it is in producing good outcomes

Question 5

The content validation approach to objective test construction is based primarily upon

A) the prevailing opinions of experts in the field.
B) the predictive value of each potential item.
C) correlations with other tests measuring the same construct.
D) the premise that examinees cannot or will not reliably and accurately report on themselves.

Question 6

A middle-aged male was admitted to the inpatient ward last night,and Dr.Harris had him complete the MMPI-2 this morning.If he follows current clinical practice,how is Dr.Harris most likely to use the MMPI-2 to arrive at a diagnosis?

A) He will interpret the patient's scores on individual clinical scales.
B) He will interpret the patient's pattern of scores across clinical scales.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 7

The majority of contemporary test developers typically use the __________ approach to test construction.

A) factor analytic
B) content validation
C) construct validation
D) empirical criterion keying

Question 8

Which of the following is true regarding the original MMPI?

A) Its development included a nationwide comparison of several thousand nonclinical individuals and several thousand psychiatric patients.
B) Its primary purpose was to diagnose personality disorders.
C) It consisted of 550 true/false items.
D) all of the above

Question 9

Hathaway and McKinley published the original MMPI in

A) 1930.
B) 1943.
C) 1956.
D) 1969.

Question 10

Dr.Ahmad is developing a new objective personality test by appealing to "authorities" in the field to verify the validity of each item.This strategy for test construction is best labeled

A) empirical criterion keying.
B) factor analytic.
C) authoritarian.
D) content validation.

Question 11

The Psychasthenia (Pt)scale on the MMPI is best characterized by which more popular contemporary term?

A) depressed
B) dissociative
C) psychotic
D) obsessive-compulsive

Question 12

The __________ approach to test construction involves many aspects of other approaches and is the most labor-intensive.

A) construct validation
B) content validation
C) empirical criterion keying
D) factor analytic

Question 13

Which of the following personality assessments is used by more clinical psychologists than any other personality assessment?

A) MMPI-2
B) TAT
C) Rorschach
D) sentence completion methods

Question 14

A group of clinical psychologists is constructing an objective personality test.They find that people with panic disorder tend to agree with the statement "I like brown shoes better than white shoes" significantly more often than people without panic disorder.They decide to include this item on their test,even though it makes little theoretical sense.These clinical psychologists are apparently using the __________ strategy of test construction.

A) factor analytic
B) construct validation
C) content validation
D) empirical criterion keying

Question 15

In which situation below would it be most appropriate to use the MMPI-2?

A) Dr. Vilas has been hired by an automotive company to screen individuals applying for jobs with the company.
B) Dr. Viviano is interested in assessing for generalized anxiety disorder in a large group of nursing home residents.
C) Dr. Vinton is interested in the psychological functioning of individuals facing felony assault charges.
D) Dr. Venka would like insight into the psychodynamic functioning of soldiers returning from their tours of duty.

Question 16

Objective tests typically

A) focus on behaviors, rather than underlying motives.
B) contain some transparent items, making them more vulnerable to "faking" than projective tests.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 17

The original MMPI was developed via the__________ approach to objective test construction.

A) empirical criterion keying
B) factor analytic
C) content validation
D) none of the above

Question 18

The original MMPI was standardized on individuals who

A) were exclusively white.
B) were largely from small towns in Minnesota.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 19

An advantage of objective tests is that they typically allow clinical psychologists to

A) administer the same test to multiple clients at the same time.
B) allow significant leeway for personalized scoring and administration.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 20

__________ involve the administration of a standard set of questions or statements to which the examinee responds using a fixed set of options.

A) Personality interviews
B) Objective personality tests
C) Projective personality tests
D) none of the above

Question 21

The NEO-PI-R was developed from a model of "normal" personality,but is increasingly being used with clinical populations.Specifically,its use in assessing __________ has been supported by preliminary research.

A) dissociative disorders
B) personality disorders
C) specific phobias
D) dysthymia

Question 22

ALL BUT WHICH of the following is a point of significant concern regarding the MMPI-2?

A) the clarity of the item wording
B) the internal consistency of the scales
C) the amount of item overlap among scales
D) the characteristics of the normative sample

Question 23

Which of the following is an accurate statement about research on the reliability and validity of the Rorschach?

A) Very few studies have evaluated the Rorschach empirically.
B) There has been a substantial amount of research on the Rorschach, and this research has been overwhelmingly favorable.
C) There has been a substantial amount of research on the Rorschach, and this research has been consistently negative.
D) Research evaluating the Rorschach has been mixed and, at times, of questionable quality.

Question 24

Dr.Tagano is interested in seeing whether a recently admitted psychiatric inpatient was thoughtful and earnest in his completion of the MMPI-2.What scale scores would Dr.Tagano examine to make that determination?

A) the clinical scales
B) the supplementary scales
C) the content scales
D) none of the above

Question 25

Lynn is undergoing a psychological examination and is attempting to exaggerate her problems and symptoms.It is most likely that Lynn's __________ scale on the MMPI-2 will be elevated.

A) D
B) Sc
C) F
D) L

Question 26

The domains measured by the NEO-PI-R include

A) Neuroticism and Openness to Experience.
B) Schizophrenia and Conscientiousness.
C) Need for Achievement and Extraversion.
D) all of the above

Question 27

Test bias refers to the situation in which

A) an individual attempts to present himself/herself in the best possible light on a test such as the MMPI-2.
B) a psychologist tends to administer a test such as the MMPI-2 to certain groups more often than to others.
C) different decisions or predictions are made for members of two groups even when they obtain the same score on a test such as the MMPI-2.
D) an individual prejudges all psychological tests as being invalid and therefore refuses to take them.

Question 28

What information,aside from information about content and determinants,is of interest to clinicians administering the Rorschach?

A) examinees' spontaneous remarks and exclamations during the test
B) how long it takes examinees to produce their first response to each card
C) the position of the card (e.g., rotated right) for each response
D) all of the above

Question 29

Some MMPI-2 experts have argued that new supplemental scales should be adopted only if they provide unique information about a person's behavior,personality,or psychopathology that is not conveyed by other measures.In other words,new supplemental scales should have good

A) incremental validity.
B) convergent validity.
C) construct validity.
D) none of the above

Question 30

The purpose of the validity scales of the MMPI-2 is

A) to detect malingering, response sets, or carelessness in test-taking.
B) to provide a global measure of psychopathology across diagnostic categories.
C) to measure the similarity between an examinee's test-taking attitude and his/her attitude during a previous administration.
D) none of the above

Question 31

Compared to the Rorschach,the TAT

A) is a purely objective personality test.
B) contains fewer cards.
C) is used to infer psychological needs.
D) has been subject to more criticism.

Question 32

ALL BUT WHICH is a valid criticism of the NEO-PI-R?

A) It contains very few validity items.
B) It demonstrates poor test-retest reliability.
C) It is unclear whether some facets really belong to their assigned domains.
D) It is unclear yet whether the instrument is appropriate for treatment planning.

Question 33

Which of the following psychological assessment procedures requires examiners to note/record client's verbatim responses?

A) the Rorschach
B) the TAT
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 34

The Family Problems (FAM)scale on the MMPI-2 is an example of a

A) clinical scale.
B) validity scale.
C) VRIN scale.
D) content scale.

Question 35

The MMPI-2 was intended to improve the original MMPI's

A) language, which had become sexist and outdated.
B) standardization sample, which included too many highly educated and African-American individuals.
C) scales, which were characterized by too much item overlap.
D) all of the above

Question 36

The Rorschach consists of

A) 10 ink blots, none of which contain color.
B) 10 ink blots, half of which contain color.
C) 31 ink blots, none of which contain color.
D) 20 ink blots, half of which contain color.

Question 37

Joe is undergoing a psychological examination and is attempting to present himself in a favorable light.It is most likely that Joe's __________ scale on the MMPI-2 will be elevated.

A) Mf
B) F
C) Pt or Sc
D) L or K

Question 38

Jason is taking a personality test.He comes to the item "I like large social gatherings," which measures extraversion,and he rates his agreement on a 1-4 scale where 1 = strongly disagree and 4 = strongly agree.Which of the following would be a reverse-scored version of this item?

A) "I like large social gatherings," where -1 = strongly agree and -4 = strongly disagree
B) "I like small social gatherings," where 1 = strongly disagree and 4 = strongly agree
C) "I dislike large social gatherings," where 1 = strongly disagree and 4 = strongly agree
D) "I dislike small social gatherings," where 1= strongly disagree and 4 = strongly agree

Question 39

Jeremiah takes the NEO-PI-R and scores particularly high on the facets of Fantasy,Aesthetics,Feelings,and Ideas.Based on this information alone,it is likely that he will score

A) relatively low on the domain of Neuroticism.
B) relatively low on the domain of Conscientiousness.
C) relatively high on the domain of Openness to Experience.
D) relatively high on the domain of Extraversion.

Question 40

The NEO-PI-R contains

A) 240 true/false items.
B) 240 dimensional items.
C) 550 multiple choice items.
D) 550 true/false items.

Question 41

ALL BUT WHICH of the following is consistent with the goals of sound psychological assessment?

A) The test used should match the purpose of the assessment.
B) The test used should provide information beyond that of other, more economic, measures.
C) The test used should be one that is familiar to the examinee.
D) The test used should be one with which the examiner has adequate experience.

Question 42

What must be true in order for a test to be considered "biased"? Is it possible for a test to be biased if it produces similar scores in different groups of people? Explain.

Question 43

APA's ethical standards assert that psychologists employ only techniques or procedures that are

A) objective.
B) within their competence.
C) cost-effective.
D) widely accepted by professionals in the field.

Question 44

What is the nature of the controversy surrounding the use of the MMPI-2 in personnel settings?

Question 45

Describe the Rorschach,and briefly summarize its administration and scoring procedures.How might one characterize its reliability and validity?

Question 46

ALL BUT WHICH of the following is an advantage of the Incomplete Sentences Blank (ISB)?

A) It is economical in terms of time and money.
B) Administration is easy, and doesn't require much training.
C) Scoring is objective and reliable.
D) The data it yields allows clinicians to make deep psychodynamic formulations.

Question 47

Outline three reasons why the MMPI was revised.Also,outline two common criticisms of the MMPI-2.

Question 48

Summarize the content validation approach to objective test construction.

Question 49

A clinical psychologist conducting a personality assessment instructs an examinee to "make up a story about each of these pictures." The test being administered is probably the

A) Rorschach.
B) NEO-PI-R.
C) Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank.
D) TAT.

Question 50

Computers are increasingly used to administer and interpret assessment procedures because they often

A) cut costs.
B) enhance clients' attention and motivation.
C) standardize procedures across clinicians.
D) all of the above

Question 51

Which of the following is true of computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs)?

A) Surprisingly, these interpretations are just as subjective as interpretations generated by clinicians.
B) They may be perceived as more reliable and valid than they in fact are.
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Question 52

Outline the steps involved in the construct validation approach to objective test construction.How does this approach relate to the other approaches to test construction?

Question 53

Dr.Klein believes that any patient who reports seeing lemurs on a Rorschach inkblot is necessarily psychotic,when perhaps things aren't quite so simple.This is an apt illustration of

A) the confirmation bias.
B) illusory correlation.
C) the availability heuristic.
D) subjective validation.

Question 54

Explain in adequate detail at least three distinct drawbacks of Internet-mediated psychological assessment.

Question 55

Describe the TAT,and briefly summarize its administration and scoring procedures.Identify two general guidelines for interpreting the TAT.

Question 56

How are clients protected from abuses of personality tests,including privacy and confidentiality violations?

Question 57

Which of the following is most accurate?

A) Psychologists should obtain informed consent for the entire assessment process.
B) Psychologists should obtain informed consent for the entire assessment process from clients who are referred by others, but not from those who refer themselves.
C) Psychologists should obtain informed consent for objective, but not projective, tests.
D) Psychologists should obtain informed consent for projective, but not objective, tests.

Question 58

Which of the following personality tests relies the least on formal,quantified scoring schemes?

A) TAT
B) Rorschach
C) MMPI-2
D) NEO-PI-R

Question 59

What is the purpose of the validity scales of the MMPI-2? Identify any two validity scales,and indicate what,specifically,they assess.

Question 60

Rachael is a 14-year-old Latina who has been referred for a personality assessment.Theoretically,which of the following factors may impact the validity of her assessment results?

A) The extent of her exposure to testing situations in the past.
B) The racial/ethnic make-up of the individual conducting the assessment.
C) The racial/ethnic breakdown of the standardization sample for the test.
D) Any of the above may impact the validity of the results.