The effectiveness of Whyte's rules: "How to Cheat on Personality Tests."

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the degree to which following Whyte's ("Organization Man") rules improves personality test scores. 94 undergraduates took the Bernreuter Personality Inventory twice, either following Whyte's rules (dishonest, or D) or responding normally (honest, or H), providing 4 conditions: HH, HD, DH, and DD. Results showed that: (a) H scores differed significantly from D scores. (b) D scores indicated Ss were significantly more extraverted and sociable and tended to be more self-sufficient and self-confident and less neurotic than did H scores. (c) Ss represented by D scores were not chosen by personnel supervisors for a supervisory position significantly more than were those represented by H scores. It was concluded that following Whyte's rules offers no great advantage when applying for a supervisory position. From Psyc Abstracts 36:05:5HF21S. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)