In 1968 an Anastasi wrote: "As long as a subject has sufficient education to enable him to answer a personality inventory, ...he probably has the ability to alter his score appreciably in the desired direction" (Psychological Testing, 3rd Ed., p. 456). However, it seems that she did not include this viewpoint in later editions of her well-known text (or I just couldn't find it). Any idea why she would leave this out?
This viewpoint --- with which I agree to a large extent --- has important implications for fields such as Forensic Psychology in which I work. My experience is that you really don't have to be the proverbial rocket scientist to manipulate your responses to such an extent that even the "faking good/faking bad" scales will still give you an acceptable score. I especially see this in child custody cases where the individual parents will do everything to get custody of his or her children (and can they really be blamed in all cases for doing this?)
I've also been very worried for a long time about the uncritical training in psychological testing that many students are subjected to. My experience is that many psychology lecturers try to "sell" those tests that they are experts in/know well. People should realise that there is a huge difference between indoctrination and training. If you don't give both sides of the story ( you can, of course, give your own view afterwards), it is indoctrination, not training. Psychology students should therefore be trained in not only the strength of a test (technique, therapy, etc.), but also in its weaknesses.
Any viewpoints in this regard?
Dap
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DAP LOUW, PH.D.(Psych.), PH.D.(Crim.)
HEAD: CENTRE FOR BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
PROFESSOR: DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE
P.O. BOX 339
BLOEMFONTEIN
9300 SOUTH AFRICA TEL: INTL + 51 + 401-2444 (Work)
436-3423 (Home)
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