6 Marks Question

Question

What is meant by structured personality tests? Which are the two most widely used structured personality tests?

Vidyadip · Accepted Answer

Structured personality tests are self-report measures that have the following features:

Questions are direct and structured.
They 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.
They are objective in nature and they deal with the present state of mind.

Self-report measures use inventories and questionnaires to assess conscious part of personality.
Goal of the test may be revealed.
These tests assess only conscious part of personality.

Their 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:

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ): This test was developed by Eysenck to assess two basic dimensions of personality namely introverted—extroversion and emotionally stable—emotionally unstable (Neuroticism).
MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This test was developed by Hathaway and Mckinely.

It has been found very effective in detecting psycho-pathology like hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria etc.
The test is divided into 10 sub scales. This test helps in clinical diagnosis of various mental disorders like hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, etc.
It has two sets’MMPI-I and MMPI-II. Now-a-days, MMPI-II is being used.
It has 567 items in the form of affirmative statements. The subject judges each item ‘statements’ as true or false.
MMPI is one of the very good tests for clinical purposes (diagnosis).
Indian version of MMPI is also available named as Jodhpur Multiphasic Personality Inventory (JMPI) by Malik and Joshi.
16-PF Questionnaire (Delhi board 2010)
It is developed by Cattell.
It identifies large set of personality descriptions—subjected to factor analysis to identify basic personality structure.
Subject responds to situation by choosing from alternatives.
This test is being used with high school level students in India for career guidance and counselling.

Problems Faced by self-report Measures:

Social Desirability: It is a tendency on part of the respondent to endorse items in a socially desirable manner.
Acquiescence: It is a tendency of the subject to agree with items/ questions irrespective of contents.
Testing and understanding personality require great skill and training.
People 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.

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