Subtlety, information, and faking effects in personality assessment

Examined the relative usefulness of subtle personality scales in instances in which test respondents (N = 150) are provided with advance test knowledge and motivation to distort self-presentation. Results indicated that subtle scales were not superior in situations in which faking occurred. Furthermore, where maximal (i. e., fake good) or minimal (i. e., fake bad) personality measures in terms of desirability were elicited, scores under these faking conditions proved to be less vald than in the case in which honest self-report was encouraged. These results were viewed as failing to support the utility of disguised approaches to personality measurement.