Chapter 12
Grivas, J., & Carter, L. (2009). Psychology for the VCE student Unit 1 & 2. 5 th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Qld

 Psychologists measure personality for a variety of reasons. For example: o Organisational Psychologists: suitability for a particular position in the workplace.
o Educational Psychologists: determining whether a student is suitably placed in either a mainstream school or a special school, used with IQ tests.
o Clinical Psychologists: assess personality to assist in the diagnosis of a mental illness and to monitor progress during treatment.
o Researchers may use personality assessments for a research study on a topic of interest or for test development purposes
In most cases, personality tests are used for diagnostic purposes.
Psychologists use a range of measurement devices, from tests through to interviews and observations.

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A personality test is an assessment device used to evaluate or measure aspects of personality, such as factors
(dimensions) and specific traits.
There are two types of personality tests:
Objective tests/Personality inventories
Projective tests

 A personality inventory is a self-report, ‘paper and pencil’ or online test
 Inventories measure personality types, traits and dimensions.
 Inventories are objective, as responses are not interpreted but assessed against the codes in the test manual.
 By comparing the individual's response to average scores for a large, representative sample of previously tested individuals (that is, norms), a personality profile can be compiled.

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Quick to administer
Can be used with large groups in a short period of time
Objective, not based on test administers interpretation, therefore they have greater reliability
Can be computer-based, easy to compare against ‘average’ population
Can measure a single trait, type or dimension simultaneously
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Self-report
People may manipulate their responses based on the personality they want to portray
Respondent can only give one of a range of responses
No opportunity to clarify or explain what they meant by their response
Susceptible to ‘cultural bias’

 Projective tests follow the Psychodynamic
Perspective as it assumes that a person’s unconscious thoughts project onto a visual stimulus.
 Respondent’s answers are not restricted
 Aspects of personality are revealed in the interpretation.
 Projective tests can provide much more detailed information than objective tests.

 Developed by Herman
Rorschach in 1921 to identify individuals with mental health problems.
 The Rorschach Inkblot test consists of 10 visual stimulus cards, some coloured and some black and white.
 They are administered individually and test-takers are not given any clues regarding the type of response expected.

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Scoring the responses involves making subjective (personal) interpretations based on assessment criteria.
The test administrator considers:
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• What did the test-taker focus on?
What may have determined the response?
What the test-taker's perception actually was?
How often, compared to norms, that response occurs?
To what extent the response matched the features of the inkblot?

 We are going to engage with material which assesses personality
 We are not going to make interpretations of individual’s responses
 We are looking at test methodology
 You have the right to withdraw at any time

 We are going to create our own inkblot visual stimuli.
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 You will need to:
Place a small amount of paint on your page about ¼ of the way down, on one side of the page.
With your eyes closed, use the paddle pop stick on your table to create a design.
Then fold your page in half.
 Once opened, you have created your inkblot.

 Keep in mind that your paint will still be wet.
 Leave your tests on your desk.
 Swap tables, take a pen only
 Move around the table and interpret the visual stimuli by writing the first thing that comes
to mind when you see the image.
 Record your response in the table provided

 Was there a common response to your inkblot stimuli?
 Why do you think it was important to ask participants not to think about their responses to the stimuli?
 What are some advantages of the Rorschach inkblot test?
 What are some potential limitations of the Rorschach inkblot test?

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No right or wrong answer
Test-takers are less likely to be able manipulate responses
Responses are not restricted, they can provide as much information as they wish
Provides rich qualitative data about a person, in their own words
Results can be used by
Psychologists to direct their therapy.
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Responses are interpreted by test administrator, could be prone to inaccuracies
Different Psychologists may interpret responses differently to one another, low reliability
Projective tests may not actually be assessing underlying personality,
Assumes that there is an unconscious and that this determines the underlying themes of personality
Have to be administered individually, time consuming and expensive

 If you were going to have your personality measured, which type of test would you prefer to be assessed by?
 Take into account the strengths and limitations of objective and projective tests.