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

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:

1. 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).

2. 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

• 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.