key term - Infrequency scale

Definition

The infrequency scale is a measure used in personality assessment to identify individuals who may be providing random or careless responses on a self-report questionnaire. It is designed to detect invalid or unreliable response patterns by including items that are highly unlikely to be endorsed by most people.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The infrequency scale is often included in personality inventories to identify individuals who are not responding truthfully or consistently.
2. Items on the infrequency scale are designed to be endorsed by only a small percentage of the population, such as 'I have never used a telephone' or 'I have never brushed my teeth.'
3. Responses that endorse these unlikely items may indicate that the individual is not reading the questions carefully or is responding randomly.
4. High scores on the infrequency scale can lead to the invalidation of an individual's responses on the overall personality inventory.
5. The infrequency scale is an important tool for ensuring the reliability and validity of personality assessment results.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose of the infrequency scale in personality assessment.
  • The infrequency scale is used in personality assessment to identify individuals who may be providing random or careless responses on a self-report questionnaire. It is designed to detect invalid or unreliable response patterns by including items that are highly unlikely to be endorsed by most people. High scores on the infrequency scale can lead to the invalidation of an individual's responses on the overall personality inventory, ensuring the reliability and validity of the assessment results.
• Describe the characteristics of items included on the infrequency scale.
  • Items on the infrequency scale are designed to be endorsed by only a small percentage of the population. These items are typically highly unlikely or implausible, such as 'I have never used a telephone' or 'I have never brushed my teeth.' Responses that endorse these unlikely items may indicate that the individual is not reading the questions carefully or is responding randomly, which can compromise the validity of the personality assessment.
• Analyze the importance of the infrequency scale in ensuring the reliability and validity of personality assessment results.
  • The infrequency scale is a crucial tool for ensuring the reliability and validity of personality assessment results. By identifying individuals who are providing random or careless responses, the infrequency scale helps to invalidate those responses and prevent them from skewing the overall assessment. This is important because unreliable or invalid responses can lead to inaccurate conclusions about an individual's personality traits, attitudes, and behaviors, which can have significant implications for decision-making and interventions. The infrequency scale is therefore an essential component of effective personality assessment, contributing to the overall quality and trustworthiness of the assessment process.

Related terms

Validity:

The degree to which a test or assessment measure what it is intended to measure.

Response bias: The tendency of an individual to respond to questionnaire items in a particular way, regardless of the content.

Personality inventory: A self-report measure used to assess an individual's personality traits, attitudes, and behaviors.