Final answer:
An example of an empirically keyed test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), which uses true/false questions to establish an individual's clinical profile and is designed based on empirical data rather than solely on theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of an empirically keyed test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). This type of test utilizes a series of true/false questions to create a clinical profile for an individual. The MMPI, like other empirically keyed instruments, is designed by administering the test to groups known to differ in specific ways and identifying items that discriminate between these groups.
The term empirically keyed pertains to the methodology used to develop the test, where items are selected based on how well they differentiate between groups rather than whether they seem theoretically relevant. This contrasts with tests that are theoretically constructed, where items are based on a particular theory of personality or behavior.
Self-report inventories are an efficient way to gather data and are easy to administer. However, they are susceptible to response biases such as social desirability. The MMPI has robust reliability scales to ensure the consistency of responses over time, enhancing its credibility and making it less prone to manipulation.