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How do Applicants Fake? A Response Process Model of Faking on Multidimensional Forced-Choice Personality Assessments

Fuechtenhans, Miriam, Brown, Anna (2022) How do Applicants Fake? A Response Process Model of Faking on Multidimensional Forced-Choice Personality Assessments. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 31 (1). pp. 105-119. ISSN 0965-075X. E-ISSN 1468-2389. (doi:10.1111/ijsa.12409) (KAR id:97918)

Abstract

Faking on personality assessments remains an unsolved issue, raising major concerns regarding their validity and fairness. Although there is a large body of quantitative research investigating the response process of faking on personality assessments, for both rating scales (RS) and multidimensional forced choice (MFC), only a few studies have yet qualitatively investigated the faking cognitions when responding to MFC in a high-stakes context (e.g., Sass, Frick, Reips, & Wetzel, 2020). Yet, it could be argued that only when we have a process model that adequately describes the response decisions in high stakes, can we begin to extract valid and useful information from assessments. Thus, this qualitative study investigated the faking cognitions when responding to MFC personality assessment in a high-stakes context. Through cognitive interviews with N=32 participants, we explored and identified factors influencing the test-takers’ decisions regarding specific items and blocks, and factors influencing the willingness to engage in faking in general. Based on these findings, we propose a new response process model of faking forced-choice items, the Activate-Rank-Edit-Submit (A-R-E-S) model. We also make five recommendations for practice of high-stakes assessments using MFC.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/ijsa.12409
Uncontrolled keywords: applicant faking, response process model, multidimensional forced choice, high-stakes personality assessment
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Anna Brown
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2022 12:38 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Nov 2024 00:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/97918 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Fuechtenhans, Miriam.

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Brown, Anna.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5612-2627
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