Acceptance of personality questionnaire feedback: The role of individual difference variables and source of interpretation

This study investigated a variety of factors which were hypothesized, on the basis of past research, to influence subjectsʹ acceptance of feedback of test results—report content, the source of interpretation, and individual differences. The Cattell 16PF was administered to 83 subjects, each of whom subsequently attempted to identify their own report from a group of four. Half the subjects were led to believe that the personality data had been interpreted and the report generated by computer, while half were told a human expert was responsible for this. Subjects later rated their reports in terms of perceived accuracy and how satisfied they felt with them. The results showed that subjects were able to identify their test-derived personality at a level greater than chance, but that they did not place more confidence in computer analysis. However, the data suggest that an individualʹs level of formal education may influence confidence in human analysts. Gender and other individual differences were found to yield significant results in terms of correct identification of own report, females and those higher in self-perceptive traits being more accurate. The findings are discussed in terms of self-perception of traits and social desirability, and their implications for feedback of test results are discussed.