Final answer:
A self-report screening instrument consists of multiple-choice items or numbered scales evaluating personality and psychological states; examples include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and its revisions, which take 1-2 hours or less to complete. The instruments are easy to administer, though their validity can be affected by respondents' self-presentation biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
A self-report screening instrument is a type of questionnaire designed to assess various aspects of a person's personality or psychological state. It typically consists of multiple-choice items or numbered scales, like a Likert scale, which range from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). An example of a widely used personality inventory is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), particularly the MMPI-2 version with 567 true/false questions or the newer MMPI-2-RF version with 338 questions. The MMPI-2 takes about 1-2 hours to complete, whereas the MMPI-2-RF takes about half that time. These tests are used not only in clinical diagnostics but also in occupational screening and various forms of counseling.
The validity of data collected from self-report instruments may be affected by the respondents' tendency to present themselves in a socially desirable light, which can introduce bias. Furthermore, reliability scales are used to ensure that an instrument is consistent over time; for example, the MMPI can show changes in psychological states such as increased vulnerability to alcoholism or anxiety based on repetitive testing over a period. The process is often straightforward, making these instruments easy to administer and cost-effective for collecting large amounts of data.
The typical completion time varies depending on the test and can range from 10-15 minutes for shorter surveys to 1-2 hours for comprehensive assessments like the MMPI-2.