Final answer:
The correct survey instrument for managers to identify potential personality-related traits important for a job is a personality inventory, particularly options like the MMPI, which is known for evaluating personality traits in the context of job performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
A survey instrument designed to assist managers in identifying potential personality-related traits that may be important in a job is the c) Personality inventory. Personality inventories are used extensively in various contexts, ranging from hiring and job training to legal cases, and they focus on matching personality traits with the demands of a job to ensure optimal performance. One widely recognized personality inventory is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), which uses a series of true/false questions to assess personality. In contrast, a task like job specification involves identifying the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required by a job, and a task analysis checklist would catalog the actual tasks involved in a job.
Other tools mentioned, such as the job specification questionnaire, performance appraisal form, and task analysis checklist serve different functions within the scope of industrial-organizational psychology. A job specification questionnaire is more aligned with defining the KSAs needed for job performance, whereas a performance appraisal form is used for evaluating an employee’s performance, and a task analysis checklist details the tasks that comprise a job.
Therefore, for the purpose of identifying personality traits relevant to job performance, the personality inventory is the correct tool, as it is designed to measure various dimensions of an individual's personality and can predict how well they will perform in specific job roles.