Effects of Examiner Variables on Reported Self-Disclosure: Implications for Group Personality Testing

Abstract

The interactions of three examiner variables-gender, ethnicity (Anglo or Mexican American), and style of administration (nondirective, directive, or neutral)-on the responses of Mexican American and Anglo, male and female university students' responses to Jourard's Self-Disclosure Questionnaire were investigated. An analysis of variance procedure was used and several interactions were statistically significant. The results of this study indicate that global examiner variables such as gender and ethnicity as well as more subtle variables such as verbal style of administration can greatly effect group test results. These effects are compounded when the respondents are of different gender and ethnicity. Implications of these findings for group personality tests are discussed.