Detection of faking on role-play tests of assertiveness

Faking and demand characteristics can represent significant threats to the validity of role-play tests of social competence. The present study examined whether faking could be detected via the global judgments of experienced and inexperienced assessors. 26 undergraduates low in assertiveness were induced to fake their performances on the Idiographic Role-play Test via instructions and information. Experienced judges successfully differentiated faking subjects from highly assertive subjects (n = 27) who had been provided with information and nonfaking instructions (98% accuracy). Inexperienced assessors correctly classified 79% of the subjects. Within the discussed limitations of this study, it appears that it is possible to detect faking on role-play tests of assertiveness.