Evaluating the fakability of a conditional reasoning test of addiction proneness

Abstract

The quest to assess personality objectively is riddled with challenges. However, conditional reasoning (CR) methodology takes an innovative approach to personality measurement by indirectly evaluating the cognitive biases associated with specific dispositional traits. In addition to demonstrating strong criterion-related validities, the CR format has been shown to be more resistant to response distortion than traditional self-report measures so long as indirect measurement is maintained. The present study evaluated the necessity of maintaining the indirect nature of a CR-based measure of addiction proneness. Results indicated that disclosing the purpose of assessment yielded significant mean shifts on a CR-based measure of addiction proneness compared to those of an uninformed group. Specifically, when the construct of interest was made explicit, participants could identify the keyed response options when instructed to do so. These findings further underscore the necessity of maintaining indirect measurement when administering CR measures.

How to select a true leader?

“…The conditional reasoning test was initially developed to measure implicit aspects of achievement motivation (James, 1998), and aggressiveness (James et al, 2005), but today it is used to measure certain aspects of leadership (James et al, 2013), team orientation (O'Shea et al, 2004), delays, absenteeism and withdrawal (Nieminen, 2012), addiction tendencies (Bowler and Bowler, 2014), and creativity (Schoen et al, 2016).…”

Measuring non-cognitive predictors in high-stakes contexts: The effect of self-presentation on self-report instruments used in admission to higher education

“…However, these methods remain understudied in actual applicant samples and thus far results are far from unanimous. Respondents tend to show the same response biases in other ratings as in self-rating (Brown, 2016), and indirect measures were found susceptible to faking when their purpose was disclosed (Bowler & Bowler, 2014). O′Neill et al (in press) compared actual applicants' scores to honest respondents' on a Likertformat personality questionnaire and a forced-choice personality questionnaire and found differences with medium to large effects sizes for both instruments.…”

The added value of implicit motives for management research Development and first validation of a Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT) for the measurement of implicit motives

“…Thus, the pattern of selected solutions is indicative of the justification mechanisms that people apply, and hence of the underlying unconscious or implicit processes through which people motivate their behaviors and thoughts. CRTs have been successfully developed and used for the assessment of achievement motivation [ 13 ], aggression [ 57 ], power [ 58 ], creativity [ 59 ], addiction proneness [ 60 ], and most likely also for a number of other constructs. Recent studies, including two meta-analyses, show that the CRT has good psychometric qualities [ 60 – 63 ].…”

“…CRTs have been successfully developed and used for the assessment of achievement motivation [ 13 ], aggression [ 57 ], power [ 58 ], creativity [ 59 ], addiction proneness [ 60 ], and most likely also for a number of other constructs. Recent studies, including two meta-analyses, show that the CRT has good psychometric qualities [ 60 – 63 ]. Notwithstanding these good properties, the development and validation of new CRTs is rather effortful [ 39 ] and completion of one CRT requires up to 20–30 minutes [ 59 ].…”