Deck 12: Personality Assessment: An Overview

Question 1

"The unique way people interpret and make sense of their perceptions as a consequence of their learning experiences,cultural background,and related variables." This is a definition of which of the following terms?

A) instrumental values
B) terminal values
C) worldview
D) acculturation

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Bushman and Wells had high school hockey players complete a pre-season,self-report measure of aggressiveness.The preseason measure of aggressiveness was shown to

A) predict the number of penalty minutes served.
B) be negatively related to the number of penalty minutes served.
C) predict the total number of goals scored.
D) None of these

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A clinician has her clients rate every therapy session on a seven-point rating scale with "helpful" on one end,and "not helpful" on the other.This clinician is using a method of assessment called

A) the semantic differential.
B) forced-choice format.
C) adjective checklist format.
D) None of these

Answer 3

A

Question 4

An implication of terms such as self-concept differentiation is that

A) personality traits can be fragmented.
B) the more unified one's self-perception, the better.
C) traits are context dependent.
D) None of these

Question 5

Gosling's cross-species work in personality assessment has suggested that differences in the personality of dogs exist and can be

A) reliably measured.
B) distinguished by breed.
C) inherited from one generation to the next.
D) All of these

Question 6

Relatively few personality tests seek to distinguish traits from states.One test that does make this distinction is

A) the MMPI-2-RF.
B) the STAI.
C) the Self-Directed Search.
D) the CPI.

Question 7

In the OSS blown bridge evaluation,assistants of the candidate being evaluated

A) were responsible for getting the necessary parts.
B) were responsible for all of the "heavy lifting."
C) might take command of the task at any time.
D) did more to frustrate efforts than help.

Question 8

Psychologist John Holland was BEST known for

A) a research program that led to the development of the Big 5.
B) a controversy regarding the primacy of states versus traits.
C) a theory that occupational choice depends on personality.
D) a tunnel linking New York and New Jersey, named in his honor.

Question 9

According to the findings of Donahue et al.,people with low levels of self-concept differentiation

A) tend to be less healthy physically.
B) tend to be healthier psychologically.
C) tend to have a less unified sense of self.
D) None of these

Question 10

In Chapter 12 of the text,reference was made to a study that entailed the measurement of attachment security in

A) elementary school children using the BYI-II.
B) Iranian refugees using the NEO-PI-R.
C) high school students using the Self-Directed Search.
D) rhesus monkeys using Q-sort methodology.

Question 11

Which test would be appropriate for use with a seven-year-old child?

A) The BYI-II Depression Inventory
B) The BYI-II Self-Concept Inventory
C) The BYI-II Anxiety Inventory
D) All of these

Question 12

FBS with regard to the MMPI

A) stands for "Faking Bad Scale" and it is used to detect malingerers.
B) was a validity scale proposed by Lees-Haley, et al.
C) was criticized by MMPI author James Butcher.
D) All of these

Question 13

"Certain personality traits exist in all people to varying degrees.The assessor's task is to determine what the strength of each of these traits are in the assessee." We would be MOST likely to hear this statement from one who

A) has never taken a course in psychological testing and assessment.
B) views testing and assessment from a nomothetic viewpoint.
C) views testing and assessment from an idiographic viewpoint.
D) views testing and assessment from an ipsative perspective.

Question 14

Psychologists have embraced "the Big 5" big time,and a number of tests have been developed to measure the Big 5.Which of the following is NOT a test that was developed to measure the Big 5?

A) the NEO-PI-R
B) the Big Five Inventory (BFI)
C) the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI)
D) the 16-PF

Question 15

Pre-production legal work on the film The Three Faces of Eve entailed getting Eve White,Eve Black,and Jane to sign contracts with the producer.The patient was asked to elicit these three different personalities and then sign a contract.The signatures on the three contracts were determined to be

A) completely different as a function of the personality.
B) all pretty much the same according to a graphologist.
C) all consistent with a fourth personality elicited by the patient.
D) valid but only because the patient signed each contract with an "X."

Question 16

A measure of anxiety contains 100 statements written in an agree/disagree format.Maxime indicates disagreement with each one of the statements.From this limited amount of information,it seems reasonable to say that

A) Maxime may be trying to present himself in a favorable light.
B) Maxime may be exhibiting a nonacquiescent response tendency.
C) Maxime may be exhibiting a response set characterized by deviance.
D) Maxime may be responding in a socially desirable manner.

Question 17

In the title of the test known as the MMPI-A,the "A" stands for

A) Adult
B) Adolescent
C) Form "A"
D) Alternate Form

Question 18

A key definitional difference between the terms personality trait and personality state has to do with

A) the extent to which personality is viewed as a physical attribute.
B) how stable over time the characteristic is exhibited.
C) whether or not the characteristic is subject to a halo effect.
D) the motivation of the person or persons doing the rating.

Question 19

Takumi completes a self-report inventory of personality.Generalizing from what you read in Chapter 12,the best person to ask to complete that same inventory to learn about Takumi would be

A) a close family member of Takumi.
B) a classmate or fellow employee of Takumi.
C) someone who was just introduced to Takumi.
D) None of these

Question 20

Which test BEST exemplifies a tool of assessment developed on the basis of logic and reason?

A) the MMPI
B) the CPI
C) the Blacky Pictures Test
D) the Personal Data Sheet

Question 21

The lower test-retest reliability coefficients found to exist for state anxiety when compared with higher test-retest reliability coefficients obtained for trait anxiety support which premise?

A) Traits are more enduring personality characteristics than states.
B) States are more enduring personality characteristics than traits.
C) Exhibition of anxiety is very situation-dependent.
D) None of these

Question 22

In which test are the subjects alternately instructed to indicate how they feel "right now" and how they feel "generally"?

A) Mooney Problem Checklist
B) MMPI
C) WISC-III
D) STAI

Question 23

The assumption that a constellation of traits and states may be used to identify a particular category of personality is inherent in

A) a taxonomy of personality.
B) a personality typology.
C) a personality disposition.
D) an astrological sign.

Question 24

A personality trait

A) is relatively enduring.
B) is distinguishable.
C) varies within and between individuals.
D) All of these

Question 25

What is a likely consequence if a rating checklist consistently elicits a wide-ranging variety of opinions from various raters?

A) The test will have little utility.
B) The test will have high internal consistency.
C) The test will have lower inter-rater reliability.
D) All of these

Question 26

According to Roberts and DelVecchio (2000),trait consistency tends to increase until one is between _________ years of age,at which time it peaks.

A) 10 and 20
B) 30 and 40
C) 40 and 50
D) 50 and 60

Question 27

The history of personality types dates at least as far back as the days of

A) Hippocrates.
B) Jung.
C) Freud.
D) Thorndike.

Question 28

Which BEST describes what is typically measured in personality assessment?

A) social and communication skills
B) traits and states
C) charisma
D) creativity and motivation

Question 29

Asking testtakers to indicate how they feel "at this moment" versus how they feel "in general" is an attempt to

A) obtain as much information about the testtakers as possible.
B) determine if the testtakers are responding truthfully.
C) distinguish between various traits and states.
D) evaluate subject areas listed in the song Feelings.

Question 30

A personality profile based on psychological test results typically represents the extent to which a person has provided evidence of the existence of certain personality

A) traits.
B) states.
C) tendencies.
D) Both a and b

Question 31

On the Self-Directed Search,terms such as Artistic,Enterprising,and Investigative are examples of

A) personality types.
B) personality states.
C) inclinations.
D) careers.

Question 32

A lack of cross-situational consistency in traits has been demonstrated to exist with respect to:

A) honesty.
B) attitudes toward authority.
C) introversion-extraversion.
D) All of these

Question 33

Which of the following is TRUE of personality traits?

A) They tend to stabilize in adulthood after age 40.
B) They decrease in consistency after age 30.
C) Consistency first begins at 18.
D) None of these

Question 34

People characterized as "highly differentiated" are likely to

A) experience self-perception disorders.
B) be extremely thin.
C) see themselves much the same way most of the time.
D) None of these

Question 35

On a test,an assessee chooses how to end an incomplete sentence by writing-in the end of the sentence.The format of the test could BEST be described as

A) sentence completion.
B) fill-in-the-blank.
C) free-choice.
D) All of these

Question 36

Research on psychological traits reveals

A) strong cross-situational consistency in traits such as honesty.
B) a lack of cross-situational consistency in traits such as honesty.
C) clear evidence that traits physically exist in the brain.
D) None of these

Question 37

A homeless person who prefers the environs of the street to a shelter or mental hospital may attempt to

A) fake bad on a test of psychopathology.
B) fake good on a test of psychopathology.
C) respond as candidly as possible on a test of psychopathology.
D) be cooperative with the test administrator.

Question 38

The research of Gosling et al.(2003)can be summarized by stating simply that

A) rhesus monkeys exhibit motivated behavior.
B) dogs have personality.
C) differences in personality are inherited in mice.
D) personality is multifaceted in parrots.

Question 39

An advantage of a personality test that is atheoretical in nature is that

A) test users can interpret the test according to their own theoretical preferences.
B) the test will, in all likelihood, be more valid than a theory-based test.
C) the test is much more likely to be "culture-specific" as well.
D) the test is much more likely to be "culture-fair" as well.

Question 40

The Self-Directed Search Tests are based on six personality

A) moods.
B) states.
C) types.
D) dispositions.

Question 41

The MMPI-2 is appropriate for which age range?

A) 6 to 60
B) 14 and older
C) 18 and older
D) 21 to 60

Question 42

Personality tests are used for

A) evaluating influences on health.
B) planning psychotherapeutic interventions.
C) evaluating influences on academic performance.
D) All of these

Question 43

Which test includes a Lie scale?

A) the MMPI-2
B) the NEO-PI-R
C) the Harris-Goodenough
D) the Harris-Seemingly-Goodenough

Question 44

Self-concept includes all of the following EXCEPT:

A) beliefs regarding oneself.
B) opinions regarding oneself.
C) beliefs about others.
D) beliefs about how one is thought of by others.

Question 45

A problem inherent in assessing personality by means of self-report is that respondents may

A) have little knowledge of their own unconscious motives and needs.
B) respond in ways to manage specific impressions.
C) be unaccustomed to thinking about their own personality.
D) be uncomfortable with self-reflection.

Question 46

Rating scales may be used to

A) classify.
B) de-classify.
C) predict effectiveness.
D) All of these

Question 47

The terms response style and response set as typically used in personality assessment encompass:

A) responding affirmatively to all items.
B) responding randomly to all items.
C) responding in a bizarre fashion to all items.
D) All of these

Question 48

In one approach to the construction of a test to measure a personality trait,the test is administered to at least two groups,where members of one of the groups is known to be high in the trait that the test was designed to measure.This approach is referred to as the ________ approach to test construction.

A) logical
B) factor-analytic
C) theoretical
D) empirical criterion keying

Question 49

Personality assessment data are used in which settings?

A) offices of independent practitioners
B) educational settings
C) vocational settings
D) All of these

Question 50

An example of a type of response style or response set is

A) deviance
B) acquiescence
C) extremeness
D) All of these

Question 51

The MOST frequently used and MOST researched personality test is the

A) Mooney Problem Checklist.
B) Rorschach.
C) 16 PF.
D) MMPI-2.

Question 52

The semantic differential rating technique consists of

A) a 7-point numerical scale with numbers keyed to descriptors.
B) bipolar adjectives and a 7-point rating scale.
C) an alphabetical 7-point rating scale with letters keyed to descriptors.
D) a forced-choice format.

Question 53

An example of a personality test that employed empirical criterion keying in its development is the

A) 16 PF.
B) NEO-PI-R.
C) Rorschach.
D) MMPI.

Question 54

An individual who is relatively free of psychopathology is accused of a crime.This individual makes a conscious decision that he would prefer to spend time in a mental hospital rather than a prison.Accordingly,this individual attempts to _______ when administered a personality test by a court-appointed psychologist.

A) fake good
B) fake bad
C) exhibit the Barnum effect
D) "take the fifth"

Question 55

In empirical criterion keying,test items are administered to two groups: one comprises people known to exhibit the trait,and the other is a control group.What is the purpose of this method?

A) to increase the size of the sample of test-takers
B) to make certain that a matched standardization group is used
C) to retain items that discriminate between the two groups
D) to make certain that people with multiple personality disorder are represented in the normative sample.

Question 56

A personality test contains items that were constructed by means such as consulting textbooks,reviewing clinical records,and consulting with experts in the field.Which approach to test construction BEST describes the approach of this test author?

A) the criterion groups approach
B) the factor analytic approach
C) the experiential approach
D) the content-oriented approach

Question 57

Citing or endorsing only positive attributes in a self-report measure of personality is a phenomenon referred to as

A) putting on the Barnum.
B) amplifying.
C) self-deception.
D) socially desirable responding.

Question 58

Days before the party he is having in his home,Lamar buys a number of wine magazines to leave around his living room.He does this in an effort to lead his guests to the conclusion that he is a sophisticated wine connoisseur.In reality,Lamar is a devotee of Colt 45 malt liquor and only drinks wine during ceremonial toasts.Psychologists describe Lamar's behavior as:

A) acquiescence.
B) faking good.
C) disingenuous responding.
D) impression management.

Question 59

Criticisms of the MMPI-2 include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) there is questionable comparability of the MMPI and MMPI-2 scores.
B) there was a lack of minority group members in the standardization sample.
C) there was a lack of validity of the content scales.
D) the utility of the instrument has been repeatedly questioned.

Question 60

Self-report personality assessment can entail

A) written responses to a test.
B) writing entries into a diary.
C) oral report of dreams.
D) All of these

Question 61

Which BEST describes the types of items presented to testtakers on the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule?

A) true/false
B) forced-choice
C) semantic differential
D) extremely personal

Question 62

They are built into a personality test to assist in determining how honest testtakers have been in their responses.They are referred to as

A) reliability scales.
B) validity scales.
C) honesty scales.
D) "you're busted" (UB) scales.

Question 63

Which statement is TRUE regarding state anxiety as compared to trait anxiety?

A) State anxiety is a more enduring characteristic than trait anxiety.
B) Trait anxiety is a more enduring characteristic than state anxiety.
C) Neither state anxiety nor trait anxiety is an enduring characteristic.
D) State anxiety and trait anxiety are equally enduring characteristics.

Question 64

As a result of the normalization of the standard scores on the MMPI-2,which statement is TRUE regarding a T score of 70 on the Depression Scale and a T score of 70 on Hypomania Scale?

A) The two T scores equal the same level of clinical elevation.
B) The scores can be significantly different depending on the gender of the testtaker.
C) The two scores result in different percentile ranks for each scale.
D) All of these

Question 65

Although the MMPI-2 had a larger standardization sample than the original MMPI,the norm sample remained one of the primary criticisms of this revised test.Why?

A) The MMPI-2 sample had the effect of further elevating an already elevated T score.
B) The MMPI-2 sample was made up of mostly non-White individuals.
C) The MMPI-2 sample was biased toward low SES people.
D) The MMPI-2 sample was biased toward highly educated people.

Question 66

The 16 PF is a personality measure that assesses 16 different personality

A) states.
B) traits.
C) types.
D) defects.

Question 67

Factor analysis is a statistical procedure designed to identify

A) the minimum number of variables accounting for the intercorrelations between the phenomena.
B) the maximum number of variables accounting for the intercorrelations between the phenomena.
C) the median number of variables accounting for the intercorrelations between the phenomena.
D) all potential variables accounting for the intercorrelations between the phenomena.

Question 68

Which of the following statements is TRUE of the use of validity scales in personality assessment?

A) There is widespread consensus that validity scales must be a part of any self-report personality assessment measure.
B) There is no widespread consensus that validity scales must be a part of any self-report personality assessment measure.
C) Validity scales were once a part of personality assessment tools in the past, but they are no longer seen as valid.
D) Validity scales are primarily used for tests containing sentence completion type items.

Question 69

To ensure that a child's responses on a self-report personality measure are an accurate representation of the child,which of the following would be the BEST course of action for a clinician?

A) Ask the child's parents and teachers to complete rating scales.
B) Consult with a personality researcher about the results.
C) Recheck the scores both by hand and by computer.
D) Conduct online research for the purpose of finding additional insights relative to the reason the assessment was undertaken.

Question 70

Which of the following is a validity scale first developed for use with the MMPI-2?

A) the Lie Scale
B) the Consistent Credibility Scale
C) the Moody Machiavellianism Scale
D) the Variable Response Inconsistency Scale

Question 71

Why were new MMPI-2 content subscales developed?

A) to increase the reliability of the test
B) to group items measuring the same traits or attitudes
C) to decrease the number of clinical scales necessary
D) to increase the length of the computerized narrative reports

Question 72

The BEST method for identifying a rater's possible bias in scoring subjective content would entail having the rater

A) comment on the scoring of other raters.
B) read each scoring instruction aloud and comment on each.
C) verbalize thought processes associated with scoring each item.
D) over for brunch and casually ease the conversation towards scoring practices.

Question 73

A limitation of the MMPI that contributed to the need for developing the MMPI-2 was

A) the sample size and representativeness of the normative sample of the MMPI were limited.
B) the MMPI could not be scored with sufficient reliability by graduate students in psychology.
C) the MMPI could not be used with non-English-speaking populations.
D) The MMPI evidenced great inconsistency in the clinical scales.

Question 74

Which of the following item formats were illustrated in the chapter 12 Everyday Psychometrics entitled "Some Common Item Formats"?

A) true-false
B) two-choice item
C) semantic differential
D) All of these

Question 75

Which of the following represents the BEST alternative to the use of validity scales?

A) test directions that stress the importance of being honest when responding
B) including duplicate items throughout the test
C) using multiple sources of information to draw conclusions including third-party information.
D) having testtakers review their responses and then sign a statement attesting to the truthfulness of the responses.

Question 76

Consider the following test item: How I feel when I go on a date:
Tense ____: _____: _______: ______: _______: ______: ______ Relaxed
This item may BEST be described as

A) an embedded item.
B) a range-of-choice item.
C) a forced-choice item.
D) a semantic differential item.

Question 77

Validity scales assist the test user in making judgments related to whether or not a testtaker:

A) lied when responding to a particular set of items.
B) understood the items.
C) misunderstood the items.
D) All of these

Question 78

Which statement is TRUE regarding the definition of personality?

A) Freud's definition of personality is universally accepted.
B) Hall and Lindzey's definition of personality is universally accepted.
C) The definition of Cohen, Swerdlik, and Sturma is universally accepted.
D) There is no universal definition of personality.

Question 79

Which BEST describes a personality type?

A) a distinguishable behavior of an individual
B) context-specific behavior
C) an identified pattern of traits and states
D) an inherited characteristic of a person

Question 80

Which BEST exemplifies the exhibition of a personality state?

A) Sam, who experiences fear and apprehension while watching a scary movie.
B) Stacey, who has, ever since she can remember, a profound fear of cats.
C) Bill, who has always been defiant and aggressive toward his parents.
D) Amy, who was viewed by the court and her cell mates as violent.