Face Validity of Test and Acceptance of Generalized Personality Interpretations
- 1 August 1975
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Personality Assessment
- Vol. 39 (4) , 345-348
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa3904_3
Abstract
After students in different groups took one of four "personality tests" that varied in face validity, they received a generalized personality interpretation. Even though the test lowest in face validity merely required the subject to circle digits, judged accuracy of the interpretation (a) was high for all tests (76-87% of the ratings in the various test groups were good or excellent) and (b) was independent of type of test upon which the interpretation was purportedly derived. From 46-60% of the subjects in the various groups "definitely liked" or "liked" the interpretation; likability was independent of face validity of the test. Judged accuracy and likability of the interpretation correlated positively and significantly. The willingness of individuals to accept generalized statements about themselves is a researchable problem area suggested by the present research.Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Length of Personality Inventory and the Evaluation of a Generalized Personality InterpretationJournal of Personality Assessment, 1973
- The "Barnum effect" and acceptance of negative personal evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1973
- P. T. Barnum explores the computer.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1972
- A further look at student acceptance of general personality interpretations.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1972
- Student evaluation of generalized personality interpretations as a function of method of assessmentJournal of Clinical Psychology, 1971
- Student Acceptance of Generalized Personality InterpretationsPsychological Reports, 1963
- Wanted—a good cook-book.American Psychologist, 1956
- The fallacy of personal validation: a classroom demonstration of gullibility.The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1949