Stability of Response Process and Response

Abstract

The process culminating in the response to an item in a personality inventory affects the value of that response's contribution to test score. Some response components are inappropriate from the examiner's viewpoint. Interrelationships were predicted among inappropriate components of response process, relative locations of subject and item on an underlying trait continuum, and instability of response. The recurrence of inappropriate processes on retest was also predicted.

In group administration, subjects indicated whether, in responding to each item, they used any of six inappropriate components. All hypotheses were supported. Thus inappropriate components are a function of the subject as he interprets and reacts to the particular item and also are related to the instability of his response.

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