Different Responses to the AMPI in Anonymous and Evaluative Conditions

摘要

An experimental design was used to determine if individuals responding to the Ausburg Multidimensional Personality Instrument (AMPI) under evaluative conditions would score differently than those responding under anonymous conditions. University students (N=40) completed the AMPI either after being guaranteed anonymity or being told that their responses were personally identifiable and part of a mental health screening. Individuals in the evaluative condition produced higher scores on the Guardedness Scale, a measure of defensiveness. Their scores were significantly lower on four clinical scales: Hystericality, Paranoia, Anxiousness, and Schizotypic. A Guardedness correction was developed using a fraction of Guardedness scores to correct for lower endorsement of clinical scale items under evaluative conditions.