Personality Inventory Paper

When it comes to personality inventories, it is important to understand that each inventory differs in the approach which they are created. Our book identifies four commonly used approaches in relation to personality inventory development as; Rational, Theory-Based, Criterion Group, and Factory Analysis.
Rational Approach, is defined as one of the oldest methods of personality when it comes to test construction. This approach focuses on the use of reason and deductive logic to create test items. An example is the Woodworth Personal Data Sheet (Woodworth, 1920), considered to be the first structured (i.e. Objective) personality inventory. The 116-item self-report inventory was assembled in response to needs for psychiatric screening during the U.S. entry into World, War I. (Drummond, 2010). The tests entailed of numerous statements that its creator believed were important indicators of psychological disturbance. One example of this approach would be asking an individual if he/she is sad or happy and contingent on the response whether “yes” or “no” is where the measure of rational approach will depend entirely on the test authors theory.

Theory-Based Approach, this approach originated based on a theory of personality that was already established.

For example, instruments that use projective technique are based on the psychodynamic theory of personality, which emphasizes the importance of the unconscious (i.e. hidden emotions, internal conflicts). Thus, projective instruments are thought to reveal examinees unconscious by allowing them to respond to some type of unstructured stimuli (such as an inkblot, picture, or incomplete sentence). (Drummond, 2010). The end result when using this technique will be allowing the examinee to project or express their unconscious worries, struggles, or inner

needs.
Criterion Group Approach, is defined as an empirical method of personality test construction that involves selecting items that can discriminate between relevant criterion groups and control groups. The approach begins with a population sample with known personality characteristics, such as a group of individuals diagnosed with Schizophrenia (i.e. the criterion group) (Drummond, 2010). When implementing this approach, the control group and the criterion group are studied alongside each other to ensure that each groups differentiate from one another. One important key factor is that the instrument focuses on the fact that the test discriminates not on the motives.
Factory Analysis, is another empirical approach that uses statistical procedures to (a) analyze interrelationships among a large number of variables. (e.g. personality traits) and (b) explain these variables in terms of their common underlying dimensions. (factors) (Drummond, 2010). One key factor in this approach is when building personality inventories, factor analysis intervenes by shortening each personality trait into lesser dimensions that can later be measured and evaluated.
In conclusion, each inventory has a unique personality approach, instrument and strategies that are created and constructed and later condensed into different group depending on the statistical procedure.