Knack et al. [2021] Preprint Faking paper

Self-report psychopathy scales are increasingly used in research and practice despite criticisms that they may be susceptible to response distortion and bias. We assessed the utility of including the Virtuous Responding (VR) and Deviant Responding (DR) validity scales from the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) for identifying underreporting and overreporting, respectively, on both the full and short-form versions of the Self-Report Psychopathy scale (SRP 4 and SRP-SF) in a pre/post experimental design. Using a sample of 384 male community members and a clinical comparison group of 99 males from a forensic outpatient program, we demonstrated that SRP scores were more susceptible to overreporting than underreporting, and that overreporting significantly and negatively affected convergent validity. Finally, baseline psychopathy scores were unrelated to successful response distortion (i.e., changing scores in correct direction while remaining undetected by the validity scales). It is recommended that assessments using self-report psychopathy scales consider including validity indices to detect response distortion. In doing so, it will be important to consider that general impression management may be conceptually distinct from specific forms of response distortion, such as the intentional amplification or minimization of psychopathic traits.

Negative feedback

Negative feedback is an essential constituent of any control system. It is illustrated for the case of an electronic voltage amplifier. Formal definitions are given of positive and negative feedback. Feedback can be used to adjust the amplifier's frequency response. Distortion, meaning generation of new and unwanted frequencies (harmonics, sums, differences), is reduced by a factor equal to the “return difference”.

The Lazy or Dishonest Respondent: Detection and Prevention

Self-report measures are characterized as being susceptible to threats associated with deliberate dissimulation or response distortion (i.e., social desirability responding) and careless responding. Careless responding typically arises in low-stakes settings (e.g., participating in a study for course credit) where some respondents are not motivated to respond in a conscientious manner to the items. In contrast, in high-stakes assessments (e.g., prehire assessments), because of the outcomes associated with their responses, respondents are motivated to present themselves in as favorable a light as possible and, thus, may respond dishonestly in an effort to accomplish this objective. In this article, we draw a distinction between the lazy respondent, which we associate with careless responding, and the dishonest respondent, which we associate with response distortion. We then seek to answer the following questions for both careless responding and response distortion: ( a) What is it? ( b) Why is it a problem or concern? ( c) Why do people engage in it? ( d) How pervasive is it? ( e) Can and how is it prevented or mitigated? ( f ) How is it detected? ( g) What does one do when one detects it? We conclude with a discussion of suggested future research directions and some practical guidelines for practitioners and researchers. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Organizational Pscyhology and Organizational Behavior, Volume 8 is January 21, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTIGATION OF INPUT AMPLIFIER FOR THE OSCILOSCOPE

Digital oscilloscope’s structure has analog signal acquisition circuit, which transforms signal’s amplitude to fit ADC dynamic range. This circuit is commonly called oscilloscope’s vertical or front-end amplifier. Difficulty in designing front-end amplifiers in GHz range largely affects higher frequency range oscilloscope’s price. This work is focused on designing a front-end amplifier using discrete and openly sold components. We propose a design for attenuator, buffer, variable gain circuits. Amplifier’s prototype is designed. Main characteristics of the amplifier were measured. Measured bandwidth is 3 GHz. Amplifier’s gain and attenuation can support vertical scale sensitivity range from 10 mV/div to 1 V/div. Step response distortion is under 10 %. SMD and PTH relay model attenuators were evaluated. In this paper we review oscilloscope’s front-end purpose and structure. We review amplifiers design and provide the results of experimental measurements.