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A Plea for Process in Personality Prevarication
Nathan R Kuncel1, Lewis R Goldberg, Tom Kiger
1University of Minnesota.
Human Performance in Extreme Environments : the Journal of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments
|October 4, 2011
Summary
Understanding personality test faking requires focusing on the test taker's response process. Simple decision rules, influenced by individual goals and situations, likely drive faking behavior, accelerating research progress.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Behavioral psychology
Background:
- Personality tests are widely used in various settings.
- Faking or response distortion is a known issue in personality assessment.
- Current research on faking lacks a clear focus on the test taker's cognitive process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To recommend research directions for understanding personality test faking.
- To propose that focusing on the test taker's response process will enhance understanding of faking.
- To suggest a theoretical framework for faking behavior.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of faking behavior.
- Theoretical recommendations for future research.
- Argument for a heuristic-based decision-making model.
Main Results:
- Faking behavior is likely driven by simple heuristics.
- These heuristics are influenced by test taker goals and situational factors.
- Focusing on the test taker's cognitive process is key to understanding faking.
Conclusions:
- Research should prioritize the cognitive processes underlying faking.
- A heuristic-based model offers a promising framework for studying faking.
- Understanding the 'how' of faking will lead to more rapid advancements in the field.
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