Faking personality test scores in a simulated employment situation

Abstract

85 university extension students were given the Bernreuter Personality Inventory with instructions to respond as though they were applying for the position of salesman in a large industrial organization. The following week, at the start of class, the same inventory was again distributed to the class with instructions to respond as though they were applying for the position of librarian in a small town. A table shows the score distributions for one of the traits measured by the test—"Self-confidence"—for each administration of the test. Differences between the two distributions, determined by inspection, are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)