Which of the following is considered standard practice in a modern psychological assessment of personality?

• A. Diagnosing based only on informal interviews without standardized measures
• B. Using validated self-report inventories such as the MMPI or NEO-PI-R
• C. Assessing personality exclusively through biological tests such as blood analysis
• D. Relying solely on projective tests like the Rorschach Inkblot Test

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of psychological assessment of personality, which aims to evaluate an individual's characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
2. Step 2: Recognize that modern psychological assessments prioritize reliability and validity, meaning the tools used should consistently measure what they intend to and accurately reflect personality traits.
3. Step 3: Identify that standardized measures, such as validated self-report inventories (e.g., MMPI or NEO-PI-R), are widely accepted because they have undergone rigorous testing for reliability and validity.
4. Step 4: Note that informal interviews alone lack standardization and may introduce bias, making them insufficient as the sole method for diagnosis.
5. Step 5: Understand that biological tests like blood analysis are not standard for personality assessment, and projective tests, while historically used, are now considered less reliable and are typically supplemented with standardized inventories.