Predicting Accuracy and Liking Ratings for Bogus and Real Personality Feedback

After taking the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF), 119 students subsequently received computer-generated traditional bogus (Barnum) and real (16 PF) interpretations. Each subject rated both interpretations for accuracy and likability on a 13-point scale and then chose (forced choice) which interpretation was the more accurate and which one they liked better. Barnum feedback was judged significantly more accurate than real feedback, but not better liked. Stepwise multiple-regression analyses of all dependent measures indicated that 16 PF sten scores accounted for significant amounts of variance in 16 PF Accuracy and Liking scores and in the various preference measures.