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The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is objective.
Valeria is using objective tests for her personality assessments. This conclusion is drawn directly from the key descriptors provided in the scenario: the assessments are based on “standardized procedures,” and the “scoring is free of her opinions and values.”
Objective tests in psychology are assessment tools that are administered and scored in a consistent, predetermined manner. They typically consist of a series of questions or statements, such as multiple choice, true/false, or scaled items, to which the individual responds. The scoring is based on a fixed key, meaning that each response has a pre assigned value. This process removes the administrator’s personal judgment, bias, or interpretation from the scoring process, ensuring that anyone scoring the test would arrive at the same result. Famous examples of objective personality tests include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The description of Valeria’s method aligns perfectly with this definition.
In contrast, the other options are incorrect. A subjective test is one where the scoring relies heavily on the judgment and interpretation of the examiner. The most common type of subjective personality test is a projective test, such as the Rorschach Inkblot Test. In these tests, an individual responds to ambiguous stimuli, and the psychologist interprets those responses to infer underlying personality traits or conflicts. This method is the opposite of what is described, as it is dependent on the psychologist’s opinion. Finally, while a good test should have high predictive validity, meaning it accurately predicts future behavior or outcomes, this term describes a quality of a test’s effectiveness, not its fundamental type or scoring method. Therefore, “objective” is the only term that accurately categorizes the type of test Valeria is using.
