Discuss the two major categories of personality tests.

The two major types of personality tests are self-report inventories and projective tests. Self-report inventories are structured tests. Individuals answer questions about themselves. The questions are typically yes/no, true/false, agree/disagree type items. Although they do rely on people's opinions, they are considered objective tests because the responses are limited. These tests are generally derived from research studies. The most widely used self-report test is the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory. Projective tests require people to respond to ambiguous stimuli. The underlying idea is that people will project their unconscious feelings onto these stimuli. One example of a projective test is the Rorschach test in which people respond to ink blots. Another example is the Thematic Apperception Test in which people make up a story to explain a picture. The validity and usefulness of these tests continue to be debated in the psychological community.