DETECTION OF FAKING ON ROLE-PLAY TESTS OF ASSERTIVENESS

Faking and demand characteristics can represent significant threats to the validity of role-play tests of social competence. The present stu dy examined whether faking could be detected via the global judgments of experienced and inexperienced assessors. 26 undergraduates low in a ssertiveness were induced to fake their performances on the Idiographi c Role-play Test via instructions and information. Experienced judges successfully differentiated faking subjects from highly assertive subj ects (n = 27) who had been provided with information and nonfaking ins tructions (98% accuracy). Inexperienced assessors correctly classified 79% of the subjects. Within the discussed limitations of this study, it appears that it is possible to detect faking on role-play tests of assertiveness.