Intentional response distortion on personality tests: using eye-tracking to understand response processes when faking

J Appl Psychol. 2012 Mar;97(2):301-16. doi: 10.1037/a0025711. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

Intentional response distortion or faking among job applicants completing measures such as personality and integrity tests is a concern in personnel selection. The present study aimed to investigate whether eye-tracking technology can improve our understanding of the response process when faking. In an experimental within-participants design, a Big Five personality test and an integrity measure were administered to 129 university students in 2 conditions: a respond honestly and a faking good instruction. Item responses, response latencies, and eye movements were measured. Results demonstrated that all personality dimensions were fakeable. In support of the theoretical position that faking involves a less cognitively demanding process than responding honestly, we found that response times were on average 0.25 s lower and participants had less eye fixations in the fake good condition [corrected]. However, in the fake good condition, participants had more fixations on the 2 extreme response options of the 5-point answering scale, and they fixated on these more directly after having read the question. These findings support the idea that faking leads to semantic rather than self-referenced item interpretations. Eye-tracking was demonstrated to be potentially useful in detecting faking behavior, improving detecting rates over and beyond response extremity and latency metrics.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Deception*
  • Eye Movement Measurements / instrumentation
  • Eye Movement Measurements / psychology*
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality Tests / standards*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Young Adult