construct validity approach should be adopted when
developing a measure. We have also reviewed sev-
eral objective and projective personality assessment
techniques. The MMPI-2 is the major objective per-
sonality test, and a wealth of data supports its use in
clinical assessment. Although several concerns have
been expressed about this newest version, in general
it has been widely accepted and represents perhaps
the most important measure in the field. Among
projective techniques, we focused most of our dis-
cussion on the Rorschach. In many respects, clinical
psychologists’allegiance to this test divides the field
along the lines of believers versus nonbelievers. Aca-
demic clinical psychologists tend to be highly critical
of the Rorschach, and the acrimonious debate over
its legitimacy and merits rages on.
We have concluded with a discussion of the
use and abuse of testing. The American Psycholog-
ical Association publishes itsStandards for Educational
and Psychological Testing(for the most recent updated
information on the newest version, see Web site
8-4 at the end of the chapter). These standards
will continue to promote the ethical use of tests.
Issues of protection, privacy, confidentiality, dis-
crimination, and test bias must be considered by
clinical psychologists involved in the development
and use of personality tests. Finally, we have dis-
cussed the contemporary trend of computer-based
testing and interpretation. It is likely that techno-
logical advances will continue to influence the way
psychological tests are developed, administered, and
interpreted.KEY TERMS
base ratesPrevalence rates.
computer-based assessmentThe use of com-
puters to administer (and possibly interpret)
responses to clinical interviews, IQ tests, self-
report inventories, and so on.
computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs)
The interpretive profiles generated by computer
scoring programs for various psychological tests.
The use of such profiles has been the subject of
intense debate.
construct validity approachAn approach to test
construction in which scales are developed based
on a specific theory, refined using factor analysis
and other procedures, and validated by showing
(through empirical study) that individuals who
achieve certain scores behave in ways that could be
predicted by their scores.
content validationThe process by which
one ensures that a test will adequately measure all
aspects of the construct of interest. Methods of
content validation include carefully defining all
relevant aspects of the construct, consulting
experts, having judges assess the relevance of each
potential item, and evaluating the psychometric
properties of each potential item.
empirical criterion keyingAn approach to test
developmentthatemphasizestheselectionof
items that discriminate between normal individuals
and members of different diagnostic groups,
regardless of whether the items appear theoreti-
cally relevant to the diagnoses of interest.
factor analytic approachA statistical method
often used in test construction to determine
whether potential items are or are not highly
related to each other.
Five-Factor Model (FFM)A comprehensive
model of personality that comprises the dimen-
sions of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness,
Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness as well as six
facetsbelongingtoeachdimension.
illusory correlationIn the context of projective
testing, the phenomenon by which certain test
responses become associated with specific person-
ality characteristics. These responses come to be
viewed as signs of the trait in question and may be
given undue weight when interpreting the test.252 CHAPTER 8