Question 1

Which of the following provides the best example of the P.T.Barnum effect?

Accepted Answer

The P.T. Barnum effect is the tendency for people to believe personality descriptions that are tailored specifically to them, even if they are vague or general. Horoscopes are a classic example of this effect, as they often contain broad and generic statements that can apply to a wide range of people, yet people still believe them to be accurate and personalized. Inkblots, graphology, and physiognomy may also involve subjective interpretation, but they do not specifically tailor their descriptions to the individual in the same way that horoscopes do.

Question 2

The MMPI-2 contains all of the following scales except

Accepted Answer

The MMPI-2 contains scales measuring a wide variety of psychological constructs, including hypochondriasis, hypomania, and masculinity/femininity. However, there is not a specific scale dedicated to measuring sociability.

Question 3

The fact that a general statement can be seen by five different individuals as being an insightful analysis of their personality is most likely due to the

Accepted Answer

The P.T. Barnum effect, also known as the Forer effect, is a phenomenon in which people tend to accept vague and general statements about themselves as accurate descriptions of their personality, even if the statements could apply to just about anyone. This is likely the reason why five different individuals could see the same statement as insightful analysis of their personality. This effect is often seen in personality assessments and horoscopes.

Question 4

The NEO-PI-R assesses personality traits in the __________ range,and the MMPI assesses personality traits in the _________ range.

Accepted Answer

The NEO-PI-R is designed to assess normal personality traits, while the MMPI is used to assess psychopathology and personality disorders.

Question 5

Which projective test involves creating a story based on interpersonal images?

Accepted Answer

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) involves showing a series of ambiguous pictures to the participant and asking them to create a story about what is happening in the image. The images typically involve interpersonal relationships and the participant's responses are interpreted to reveal their underlying motives, emotions, and desires.

Question 6

Greta has been administered the Rorschach Inkblot Test by her counsellor and reports that she frequently sees two mirror images looking at one another,such as two dogs facing each other.According to the scoring methods used with the Rorschach,Greta would be considered

Accepted Answer

Greta's response to the Rorschach Inkblot Test, where she frequently sees two mirror images looking at one another, suggests self-centeredness and narcissism. This is because the tendency to perceive mirror images in the inkblots is often associated with a preoccupation with oneself and one's own appearance.

Question 7

Genie is completing a personality test her psychologist gave her,and wants to appear as if she is traumatized (even though she feels fine)following an accident at work.What type of response set is Genie engaging in?

Accepted Answer

Genie is engaged in malingering, which is the deliberate exaggeration or fabrication of physical or psychological symptoms for secondary gain, such as seeking compensation or avoiding work.

Question 8

Taylor is completing a personality test as part of a job application for a position he really wants.He alters his answers somewhat to make himself look better than he really is to increase his chances of getting the job.Taylor is engaging in

Accepted Answer

Taylor is engaging in impression management, which refers to the process of presenting oneself in a favorable light to others. He is altering his answers to create a positive impression and increase his chances of getting the job. Malingering refers to the deliberate attempt to exaggerate or fake symptoms of illness or injury, self-correction refers to the process of correcting one's own behavior, and projection refers to the tendency to attribute one's own feelings, motives, or attitudes to others.

Question 9

The method of test construction that requires test developers to begin with a clear-cut conceptualization of a trait and write items to assess that conceptualization is the ________________ method.

Accepted Answer

The rational/theoretical method of test construction requires the test developers to have a clear understanding of the trait being assessed and to write items that directly relate to that trait. It is a top-down approach that is based on theory and research, and is commonly used to create tests assessing personality traits or intelligence.

Question 10

_____________ is a technique that involves the psychological interpretation of handwriting.

Accepted Answer

Graphology is the technique that involves the psychological interpretation of handwriting. Morphology is the study of the form and structure of organisms, while physiognomy is the assessment of personality based on facial features. Phrenology is a now-discredited theory that claims personality traits can be determined by the shape and size of the skull.

Question 11

Many people are familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.However,few students are knowledgeable about the fact that this popular personality assessment instrument has

Accepted Answer

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is often criticized for having low reliability, as people can get different results upon retaking the test, and low validity, as it lacks strong evidence to predict job performance or other outcomes effectively.

Question 12

High scores on what MMPI-2 validity scales can be indicative of malingering (i.e. ,making oneself appear psychologically disturbed)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of High scores on what MMPI-2 validity scales...

Question 13

Many projective assessment tools are often lacking in

Accepted Answer

Projective assessment tools, such as the Rorschach or the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), are known to have issues with validity and reliability. This is because the interpretation of the results often relies on the subjective judgment of the clinician administering the test, which can lead to inconsistencies and discrepancies. Additionally, there is limited standardization across different versions of the test, which can also impact the reliability of the results. Therefore, choice C (validity and reliability) is the best answer.

Question 14

The ____________ hypothesis assumes that in the process of interpreting ambiguous stimuli,people inevitably project aspects of their personality onto the stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The projection hypothesis assumes that in the process of interpreting ambiguous stimuli, people inevitably project aspects of their personality onto the stimulus. This means that people may see aspects of themselves in the ambiguous stimuli that may not actually be present.

Question 15

The Thematic Apperception Test in an example of what type of personality test?

Accepted Answer

The Thematic Apperception Test is a projective personality test where individuals are presented with ambiguous images and asked to create a story based on their interpretation. The responses are then analyzed to gain insight into the individual's underlying thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Question 16

One consequence of the empirical method of test construction is that many test items possess low ___________ validity.

Accepted Answer

The empirical method of test construction involves developing items based on statistical analysis of responses from a sample population, rather than theoretical or content-based criteria. As a result, many test items may lack face validity, meaning they do not appear to be relevant or measure what they are intended to measure. Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study accurately measures or manipulates the variables of interest, and test-retest validity refers to the consistency of test results over time. External validity pertains to the generalizability of research findings to the larger population.

Question 17

What characteristic of personality is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)moderately valid for assessing?

Accepted Answer

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is moderately valid in assessing a person's object relations, which refers to the way an individual interacts and perceives others in their social world. The test presents the subject with a series of ambiguous pictures and then asks them to tell a story based on what they see. The stories they create provide insight into their beliefs, feelings, and attitudes towards relationships with others.

Question 18

The empirical method of test construction is to ___________ as the rational/theoretical method of test construction is to ___________.

Accepted Answer

The empirical method of test construction involves collecting data through observation and experimentation, and using statistical analysis to identify items that differentiate between groups. This method is used for tests like the MMPI. The rational/theoretical method of test construction involves using a theory or model to guide the selection of test items, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Therefore, choice A is the best answer as it matches the empirical method to the MMPI and the rational/theoretical method to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Question 19

What method of personality assessment is considered the most controversial in psychology today?

Accepted Answer

Projective tests, such as the Rorschach inkblot test and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), ask individuals to interpret ambiguous stimuli, which can be highly subjective and difficult to standardize. Some critics argue that these tests lack reliability and validity, and can be subject to biases and overinterpretation by the examiner. As a result, many psychologists have moved away from using projective tests in favor of more structured, objective assessments.

Question 20

According to the authors,persons who employ the assessment technique of graphology are often more influenced by the ________ than they are by the actual differences in people's writing styles.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the authors,persons who employ the...

Quiz 14: D: Personality