The Attributional Style Questionnaire is not transparent

Is the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Seligman, Abramson, Semmel and von Baeyer, 1979; Peterson, Semmel, von Bayer, Abramson, Metalsky and Seligman, 1982) transparent? That is, given an incentive to score well on the questionnaire, can test-takers fake the optimal responses? In two studies we randomized college students into one of three groups. To one group we offered an incentive of $100 to the individual with the best overall score. A second group received both a $100 incentive and brief coaching on how to do well, in the form of an explanation of what the test measures. A third group, the control group, was simply asked to take the questionnaire. We found no significant differences in the scores among the three groups. This suggests that the ASQ has validity even when administered to test-takers who are highly motivated to ‘beat’ it.