Personality Psychology Exam Revision – Questions and
Answers Study Guide
Personality is - Correct Answer -inside the person
The approach that uses theory to identify important traits is the ____________________
approach - Correct Answer -theoretical
Paul's L-data indicates high grades on tests at university, and his S-data shows very high
levels of conscientiousness. Which type of validity can be assessed here? - Correct Answer -
concurrent criterion-related
The approach that uses natural language to identify important traits is the
_____________________ approach - Correct Answer -lexical
Sam often acts irritable and is short with their work colleagues. Sam's work colleagues are
more likely to act less patient, and more irritable in return. Which aspect of the person-
situation interaction is described here? - Correct Answer -evocation
The interviewee giving short, undiagnostic answers, and the interviewer not prompting or
cajoling the interviewee to elaborate is an example of which factor that can undermine
interviewer ratings of personality? - Correct Answer -inadequate information
"What is your understanding of, what you feel about the situation?" is an example of -
Correct Answer -a garbled question
What factors have been hypothesized to influence someone's score on the trait openness to
experience? - Correct Answer -opportunities to access different experiences
Of the five standards for evaluating personality theories ______________________ is
defined as "makes precise predictions that can be empirically tested" - Correct Answer -
testability
Having interview questions written in such a way that elicit a lot of useless or tangential
information is an example of which factor that can undermine interviewer ratings of
personality? - Correct Answer -invalid interview questions
"Since first class honors is essential to get into the Master of Psychology (Clinical) program,
what other attributes do you think are also important for a good applicant?" is an example
of - Correct Answer -an assuming question
The tendency to accept vague generalized statements as personalized, meaningful and
significant comments on their personality is a description of - Correct Answer -the Barnum
effect
1
, Naturalistic observations (O-data) have the advantage of being able to obtain information in
a realistic context. What is a disadvantage of naturalistic observation? - Correct Answer -
researchers are unable to control the events witnessed
The Barnum effect helps explain - Correct Answer -why people believe horoscopes
What does the "H" stand for in the HEXACO model of personality? - Correct Answer -
humility
"How would you feel if your son told you that he is gay?" is an example of - Correct Answer -
a hypothetical question
The interviewee provided enough detailed information to the question, but the interviewer
was not paying attention and has not detected the information correctly. This is an example
of: - Correct Answer -misjudgment by the interviewer
________________ Reliability is the extent to which two or more people agree - Correct
Answer -inter-rater
A research participant is asked to rate their self-perceived levels of resilience on a scale from
1 to 6, where 1 = very low and 6 = very high. What kind of scale is this? - Correct Answer -
Likert
"Why did you make the decision to break up with your partner?" is an example of - Correct
Answer -a why question
Alex has low levels of agreeableness, and also has an allergy to shellfish. A researcher
hypothesizes that there is a correlation between agreeableness and shellfish allergies. What
problem does this lead to? - Correct Answer -third variable
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality contains which three super traits? - Correct
Answer -Psychoticism, Neuroticism, Extraversion
Which of the following self-report measures is structured? - Correct Answer -I enjoy going
to social events' answer true or false
Which of the following three factors can undermine interviewer ratings of personality? -
Correct Answer -Invalid interview questions; misjudgment by the interviewer, inadequate
information
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality contains which three super traits? - Correct
Answer -Psychoticism, Neuroticism, Extraversion
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality orders personality into - Correct Answer -super
traits, narrow level traits, habits and behaviors
2
Answers Study Guide
Personality is - Correct Answer -inside the person
The approach that uses theory to identify important traits is the ____________________
approach - Correct Answer -theoretical
Paul's L-data indicates high grades on tests at university, and his S-data shows very high
levels of conscientiousness. Which type of validity can be assessed here? - Correct Answer -
concurrent criterion-related
The approach that uses natural language to identify important traits is the
_____________________ approach - Correct Answer -lexical
Sam often acts irritable and is short with their work colleagues. Sam's work colleagues are
more likely to act less patient, and more irritable in return. Which aspect of the person-
situation interaction is described here? - Correct Answer -evocation
The interviewee giving short, undiagnostic answers, and the interviewer not prompting or
cajoling the interviewee to elaborate is an example of which factor that can undermine
interviewer ratings of personality? - Correct Answer -inadequate information
"What is your understanding of, what you feel about the situation?" is an example of -
Correct Answer -a garbled question
What factors have been hypothesized to influence someone's score on the trait openness to
experience? - Correct Answer -opportunities to access different experiences
Of the five standards for evaluating personality theories ______________________ is
defined as "makes precise predictions that can be empirically tested" - Correct Answer -
testability
Having interview questions written in such a way that elicit a lot of useless or tangential
information is an example of which factor that can undermine interviewer ratings of
personality? - Correct Answer -invalid interview questions
"Since first class honors is essential to get into the Master of Psychology (Clinical) program,
what other attributes do you think are also important for a good applicant?" is an example
of - Correct Answer -an assuming question
The tendency to accept vague generalized statements as personalized, meaningful and
significant comments on their personality is a description of - Correct Answer -the Barnum
effect
1
, Naturalistic observations (O-data) have the advantage of being able to obtain information in
a realistic context. What is a disadvantage of naturalistic observation? - Correct Answer -
researchers are unable to control the events witnessed
The Barnum effect helps explain - Correct Answer -why people believe horoscopes
What does the "H" stand for in the HEXACO model of personality? - Correct Answer -
humility
"How would you feel if your son told you that he is gay?" is an example of - Correct Answer -
a hypothetical question
The interviewee provided enough detailed information to the question, but the interviewer
was not paying attention and has not detected the information correctly. This is an example
of: - Correct Answer -misjudgment by the interviewer
________________ Reliability is the extent to which two or more people agree - Correct
Answer -inter-rater
A research participant is asked to rate their self-perceived levels of resilience on a scale from
1 to 6, where 1 = very low and 6 = very high. What kind of scale is this? - Correct Answer -
Likert
"Why did you make the decision to break up with your partner?" is an example of - Correct
Answer -a why question
Alex has low levels of agreeableness, and also has an allergy to shellfish. A researcher
hypothesizes that there is a correlation between agreeableness and shellfish allergies. What
problem does this lead to? - Correct Answer -third variable
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality contains which three super traits? - Correct
Answer -Psychoticism, Neuroticism, Extraversion
Which of the following self-report measures is structured? - Correct Answer -I enjoy going
to social events' answer true or false
Which of the following three factors can undermine interviewer ratings of personality? -
Correct Answer -Invalid interview questions; misjudgment by the interviewer, inadequate
information
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality contains which three super traits? - Correct
Answer -Psychoticism, Neuroticism, Extraversion
Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality orders personality into - Correct Answer -super
traits, narrow level traits, habits and behaviors
2
