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Whoever you want me to be: Personality and incentives

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  • Andrew McGee
  • Peter McGee

Abstract

What can employers learn from personality tests when applicants have incentives to misrepresent themselves? Using a within‐subject, laboratory experiment, we compare personality measures with and without incentives for misrepresentation. Incentivized personality measures are weakly to moderately correlated with non‐incentivized measures in all treatments. When test‐takers are given a job ad indicating that an extrovert (introvert) is desired, extroversion measures are positively (negatively) correlated with IQ. Among other characteristics, only locus of control appears related to faking on personality measures. Our findings highlight the identification challenges in measuring personality and the potential for correlations between incentivized personality measures and other traits.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew McGee & Peter McGee, 2024. "Whoever you want me to be: Personality and incentives," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(3), pages 1268-1291, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:62:y:2024:i:3:p:1268-1291
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13220
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    1. Andrew McGee & Peter McGee, 2024. "Whoever you want me to be: Personality and incentives," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(3), pages 1268-1291, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • M50 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - General

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