Explain the differences in personality questionnaires and projective techniques, provide examples of each, and then discuss the advantages and limitations of each type of assessment tool

What will be an ideal response?

Answer will include that personality questionnaires are objective paper-and-pencil tests that reveal personality characteristics. (An objective test gives the same score when different people score it.) Questions, administration, and scoring are all standardized so that scores are unaffected by any biases an examiner may have. Some personality questionnaires include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, the California Psychological Inventory, and the Allport-Vernon Study of Values. Items on the MMPI-2 were selected for their ability to correctly identify persons with particular psychological problems. The MMPI-2 measures 10 major aspects of personality (clinical subscales) and has additional scales that can identify substance abuse, eating disorders, Type A (heart-attack prone) behavior, repression, anger, cynicism, low self-esteem, family problems, inability to function in a job, and other problems. Personality questionnaires are accurate only if people tell the truth about themselves. Because of this, the MMPI-2 has additional validity scales that reveal whether a person's scores should be discarded. The validity scales detect attempts by test takers to "fake good" (make themselves look good) or "fake bad" (make it look like they have problems). Other scales uncover defensiveness or tendencies to exaggerate shortcomings and troubles. Despite their limitations, it is reassuring to note that these psychological assessments (MMPI-2) are at least as accurate as commonly used medical tests. Projective tests take a different approach to personality. Projective tests seek to uncover deeply hidden or unconscious wishes, thoughts, and needs. In a projective test, a person is asked to describe ambiguous stimuli, such as on the Rorschach inkblots test, or make up stories about ambiguous pictures (Thematic Apperception Test). When you are faced with an unstructured stimulus, you must organize what you see in terms of your own life experiences. Everyone sees something different in a projective test, and what is perceived can reveal the inner workings of personality. Projective tests have no right or wrong answers, which makes them difficult to fake. Moreover, projective tests can be a rich source of information because responses are not restricted to simple true/false or yes/no answers. Although projective tests have been popular, their validity is considered the lowest among tests of personality. Objectivity and reliability are also low for different users of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and Rorschach inkblot test, two popular projective techniques. Despite their drawbacks, projective tests still have value. This is especially true when they are used as part of a test battery. In the hands of a skilled clinician, projective tests can be a good way to detect major conflicts, to get clients to talk about upsetting topics, and to set goals for therapy.