Abstract:

Considering the current scene of personality testing, in particular in China, discloses that it is primarily personality questionnaires that are being applied, but that so-called Objective Personality-tests sensu R. B. Cattell (or, in more modern terminology: tests for experiment-based assessment of behavior), which have lately been experiencing a certain “renaissance” within German speaking countries, are almost not in use. For this rea-son, a review is given of their typical properties and principle advantages over personality questionnaires. They are primarily less fakeable. As an illustration, several such tests stemming from a Viennese research group are presented, and their psychometric qualities and shortcomings discussed. Finally, several applications of these tests already in practice are listed.

Key words: Objective personality test, psychological assessment, personality questionnaire, unfakeability, computerized testing