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UNISA MOCK EXAM: PYC4804
Duration: 3 hours
The format of the paper
The paper is based on a scenario.
Questions 1 to 20 entail a discussion of particular aspects of the scenario based on
various personality theories.
Questions 21 to 35 entail the assessment of five questionnaire items based on Karen
Horney’s socially oriented psychoanalytical theory.
Questions 36 to 50 entail the assessment of five questionnaire items based on Jung’s
analytic theory.
Questions 51 to 65 entail the assessment of five interview questions based on social
cognitive learning theory.
Questions 66 to 80 entail the assessment of five interview questions based on the
ecosystemic approach.
The scenario
You own a company specialising in psychological consultation. The company is called
PsyCorp. You employ a number of professional psychologists, as well as student
psychologists who do their practical at the organisation.
At PsyCorp every day begins with a morning meeting to discuss the business of the day.
The meeting is attended by qualified psychologists working for your organisation as well
as the student psychologists. This morning’s meeting is attended by two of the senior
psychologists, Banti and Piet, and four student psychologists, Andy, Jill, Sarah and Mike.
You chair the meeting.
You inform everybody that you were contacted by the head of the South African Sports
Association (SASA), Dr Mubiana, and that you met with her the previous afternoon.
According to Dr Mubiana South Africa will be represented at the 2024 NASCAR Rally
and SASA has been tasked with assembling the pit crew that will accompany the South
African team. SASA wants PsyCorp to assist in the selection of the pit crew members.
Due to the high-risk nature of the work, potential candidates need to be thoroughly
screened for psychological stability. This makes the selection process very difficult,
especially because hard evidence has to be produced to justify the selection of some
candidates and the rejection of others. This requires scientific and objective procedures.
During your meeting with Dr Mubiana, she explained the selection process that is
required. Pit crew members need to be suitably qualified, academically and
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professionally, with at least five years’ experience working in the pit as crew members.
Applicants also have to be proficient in English. Pit crew members also have to be of a
particular psychological and behavioural profile. This profile requires that successful
candidates have the ability to manage a high-risk and psychologically demanding job.
Applicants are profiled, using psychological questionnaires specifically developed for
this purpose. Candidates are then short listed on the basis of their psychological profiles
and are then interviewed for final selection.
The questionnaires and the interview protocols that are to be used for screening and
selection purposes were obtained from an American based recruitment agency. According
to Dr Mubiana her department conducted a pilot study in which they used the
questionnaires and interview protocols. The pilot showed that there may be problems with
the instruments. Therefore, Dr Mubiana wants PsyCorp to review the questionnaires and
the interview protocols.
Discussing the problem …
Banti: So, they use questionnaires and interviews as selection instruments?
You: Yes. According to Dr Mubiana the applicants have to complete two
questionnaires and are also required to sit for an interview.
Piet: And I presume these questionnaires are psychological questionnaires – I mean,
they are based on proper theory?
You: Yes, both questionnaires and the interview protocol are based on psychological
theory. The appropriateness of these theories is part of what we have to look at
in our review.
Banti: I agree. And, I assume we have to check this in relation to the purpose the
instruments are intended for.
You: Exactly! I obtained the statistical information generated by the pilot study. So, I
suggest we focus on those questionnaire items and interview questions that look
really bad in terms of their statistical indicators.
Piet: Perhaps we should start by discussing the circumstances and working conditions
that the pit crew will experience so that we can form a better understanding of
the context and purpose of the questionnaires and the selection interview.
You: I agree. Maybe I can begin by asking our student psychologists for their opinions.
Questions 1 to 20
Assess the following discussion of the consultation scenario and answer the questions
that follow.
In each of the questions in the following discussion somebody states a problem or asks a
question. Three people respond to the problem or question. As the senior psychologist
you have to indicate who you agree with and who disagree with.
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For example, suppose Piet asks a question and Jill, Sarah and Andy respond. Decide
which of the statements made by Jill, Sarah and Andy you agree with and which you
disagree with. Select the option that corresponds with the statements with which you
agree and those with which you disagree.
Now answer questions 1 to 20 online
Questions 21 to 50
Assess new items to be included in the two questionnaires required by SASA.
SASA acquired two questionnaires for screening applicants for positions as pit crew
members for the South African NASCAR team. These questionnaires were developed
and tested in America. As such, not all the items in the questionnaires are suitable for use
in the South African context. Results from a pilot study using these questionnaires
showed that 10 items (five in each of the two questionnaires) need to be replaced with
new items.
Banti obtained the relevant materials from SASA and compiled the test specifications
outline. He gives the specification outline to the student psychologists, and tasks them
with formulating new questionnaire items.
Test specification outline
All applicants who qualify on the basis of their academic qualifications are invited to
partake in the selection processes. Psychological profiling forms a major component of
the selection process.
The psychological profiling component starts with broad screening of individuals,
refining the process at each round of selection. Quite a large number of applicants pass
through the initial rounds of selection, necessitating the use of questionnaires that can be
administered and scored easily and quickly.
Applicants are selected for a psychologically demanding job, which calls for personal
strength. These individuals have to be self-reliant, personally driven and willing to take
control of their circumstances. They also need to work together with their fellow crew
members. As part of the crew, they have to engage challenges, following prescribed
protocols and specialised methods.
The two questionnaires obtained by SASA are the Situational Person Scale (SPS), based
on social cognitive learning theory, and the Jung Personality Type Questionnaire (JPTQ),
based on Jung’s analytic theory. SASA wants to use the SPS and the JPTQ to identify
individuals who display the kind of behaviour required for the job.
UNISA MOCK EXAM: PYC4804
Duration: 3 hours
The format of the paper
The paper is based on a scenario.
Questions 1 to 20 entail a discussion of particular aspects of the scenario based on
various personality theories.
Questions 21 to 35 entail the assessment of five questionnaire items based on Karen
Horney’s socially oriented psychoanalytical theory.
Questions 36 to 50 entail the assessment of five questionnaire items based on Jung’s
analytic theory.
Questions 51 to 65 entail the assessment of five interview questions based on social
cognitive learning theory.
Questions 66 to 80 entail the assessment of five interview questions based on the
ecosystemic approach.
The scenario
You own a company specialising in psychological consultation. The company is called
PsyCorp. You employ a number of professional psychologists, as well as student
psychologists who do their practical at the organisation.
At PsyCorp every day begins with a morning meeting to discuss the business of the day.
The meeting is attended by qualified psychologists working for your organisation as well
as the student psychologists. This morning’s meeting is attended by two of the senior
psychologists, Banti and Piet, and four student psychologists, Andy, Jill, Sarah and Mike.
You chair the meeting.
You inform everybody that you were contacted by the head of the South African Sports
Association (SASA), Dr Mubiana, and that you met with her the previous afternoon.
According to Dr Mubiana South Africa will be represented at the 2024 NASCAR Rally
and SASA has been tasked with assembling the pit crew that will accompany the South
African team. SASA wants PsyCorp to assist in the selection of the pit crew members.
Due to the high-risk nature of the work, potential candidates need to be thoroughly
screened for psychological stability. This makes the selection process very difficult,
especially because hard evidence has to be produced to justify the selection of some
candidates and the rejection of others. This requires scientific and objective procedures.
During your meeting with Dr Mubiana, she explained the selection process that is
required. Pit crew members need to be suitably qualified, academically and
, 2
professionally, with at least five years’ experience working in the pit as crew members.
Applicants also have to be proficient in English. Pit crew members also have to be of a
particular psychological and behavioural profile. This profile requires that successful
candidates have the ability to manage a high-risk and psychologically demanding job.
Applicants are profiled, using psychological questionnaires specifically developed for
this purpose. Candidates are then short listed on the basis of their psychological profiles
and are then interviewed for final selection.
The questionnaires and the interview protocols that are to be used for screening and
selection purposes were obtained from an American based recruitment agency. According
to Dr Mubiana her department conducted a pilot study in which they used the
questionnaires and interview protocols. The pilot showed that there may be problems with
the instruments. Therefore, Dr Mubiana wants PsyCorp to review the questionnaires and
the interview protocols.
Discussing the problem …
Banti: So, they use questionnaires and interviews as selection instruments?
You: Yes. According to Dr Mubiana the applicants have to complete two
questionnaires and are also required to sit for an interview.
Piet: And I presume these questionnaires are psychological questionnaires – I mean,
they are based on proper theory?
You: Yes, both questionnaires and the interview protocol are based on psychological
theory. The appropriateness of these theories is part of what we have to look at
in our review.
Banti: I agree. And, I assume we have to check this in relation to the purpose the
instruments are intended for.
You: Exactly! I obtained the statistical information generated by the pilot study. So, I
suggest we focus on those questionnaire items and interview questions that look
really bad in terms of their statistical indicators.
Piet: Perhaps we should start by discussing the circumstances and working conditions
that the pit crew will experience so that we can form a better understanding of
the context and purpose of the questionnaires and the selection interview.
You: I agree. Maybe I can begin by asking our student psychologists for their opinions.
Questions 1 to 20
Assess the following discussion of the consultation scenario and answer the questions
that follow.
In each of the questions in the following discussion somebody states a problem or asks a
question. Three people respond to the problem or question. As the senior psychologist
you have to indicate who you agree with and who disagree with.
, 3
For example, suppose Piet asks a question and Jill, Sarah and Andy respond. Decide
which of the statements made by Jill, Sarah and Andy you agree with and which you
disagree with. Select the option that corresponds with the statements with which you
agree and those with which you disagree.
Now answer questions 1 to 20 online
Questions 21 to 50
Assess new items to be included in the two questionnaires required by SASA.
SASA acquired two questionnaires for screening applicants for positions as pit crew
members for the South African NASCAR team. These questionnaires were developed
and tested in America. As such, not all the items in the questionnaires are suitable for use
in the South African context. Results from a pilot study using these questionnaires
showed that 10 items (five in each of the two questionnaires) need to be replaced with
new items.
Banti obtained the relevant materials from SASA and compiled the test specifications
outline. He gives the specification outline to the student psychologists, and tasks them
with formulating new questionnaire items.
Test specification outline
All applicants who qualify on the basis of their academic qualifications are invited to
partake in the selection processes. Psychological profiling forms a major component of
the selection process.
The psychological profiling component starts with broad screening of individuals,
refining the process at each round of selection. Quite a large number of applicants pass
through the initial rounds of selection, necessitating the use of questionnaires that can be
administered and scored easily and quickly.
Applicants are selected for a psychologically demanding job, which calls for personal
strength. These individuals have to be self-reliant, personally driven and willing to take
control of their circumstances. They also need to work together with their fellow crew
members. As part of the crew, they have to engage challenges, following prescribed
protocols and specialised methods.
The two questionnaires obtained by SASA are the Situational Person Scale (SPS), based
on social cognitive learning theory, and the Jung Personality Type Questionnaire (JPTQ),
based on Jung’s analytic theory. SASA wants to use the SPS and the JPTQ to identify
individuals who display the kind of behaviour required for the job.
