The Rules of Evidence and the Prevalence of Applicant Faking

Abstract

This chapter addresses the longstanding question of “Do applicants fake?”. The authors discuss the nature of this question, a review of the relevant evidence, and an estimate of the degree to which faking on personality measures occurs in applicant contexts. Previous research has produced disparate answers to the question of whether applicants fake, with some researchers claiming the majority of applicants engage in the behavior and others suggesting the incidence of faking is negligible. In order to “prove” the existence of faking behavior, the authors use a metaphorical framework consisting of the forms of evidence often presented in a criminal trial to organize the diverse sources of evidence collected across numerous study designs. In addition, the authors present arguments that rule out alternative explanations for the outcomes of faking behavior. The data presented in this chapter suggest that on average 30% (+ or – 10%) of applicants engage in faking behavior.