Question -
Answer -
Structured personality tests are self-report measures that have the following features:
тАвQuestions are direct and structured.
тАвThey are called self-report because the examinee has to respond objectively to the items of the measure and his/her response are accepted as they are.
тАвThey are objective in nature and they deal with the present state of mind.
тАФ Self-report measures use inventories and questionnaires to assess conscious part of personality.
тАФ Goal of the test may be revealed.
тАФ These tests assess only conscious part of personality
тАвTheir results depend on motivation and emotional state of the examinee; they are
non-projective and direct inferences are made. _
Some of the self-report measures are:
1.Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ): This test was developed by Eysenck to assess two basic dimensions of personality namely introvertedтАФextroversion and emotionally stableтАФemotionally unstable (Neuroticism).
2.MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This test was developed by Hathaway and Mckinely.
тАвIt has been found very effective in detecting psycho-pathology like hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria etc.
тАвThe test is divided into 10 sub scales. This test helps in clinical diagnosis of various mental disorders like hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, etc.
тАвIt has two setsтАЩMMPI-I and MMPI-II. Now-a-days, MMPI-II is being used.
тАвIt has 567 items in the form of affirmative statements. The subject judges each item тАШstatementsтАЩ as true or false.
тАвMMPI is one of the very good tests for clinical purposes (diagnosis).
тАвIndian version of MMPI is also available named as Jodhpur Multiphasic Personality Inventory (JMPI) by Malik and Joshi.
16-PF Questionnaire┬а
тАвIt is developed by Cattell.
тАвIt identifies large set of personality descriptionsтАФsubjected to factor analysis to identify basic personality structure.
тАвSubject responds to situation by choosing from alternatives.
тАвThis test is being used with high school level students in India for career guidance
and counselling. тАШ
Problems Faced by self-report Measures
тАвSocial Desirability: It is a tendency on part of the respondent to endorse items in a socially desirable manner.
тАвAcquiescence: It is a tendency of the subject to agree with items/questions irrespective of contents.
тАвTesting and understanding personality require great skill and training.
тАвPeople become self-aware and conscious, hesitate to share thoughts and feelings and motivation. If they do it, it is done in a socially desirable manner. So, the real personality characteristics are not manifested.