This study examined the effect of anxiety and dissimulation
motivation of job applicants on their performance
on an ability test. Two aspects of performance
were considered: the total score and the appropriateness
score. Four IRT-based appropriateness indices for
detecting aberrant response patterns were employed in
this study. The results indicate a negative effect of
dissimulation motivation on the performance of low
anxiety scorers, with respect to both the total score
and the appropriateness score, with a greater effect on
the latter. This effect was evidenced by an erratic or
aberrant response pattern on the ability test; that is,
missing relatively easy items while answering more
difficult ones correctly. The results are discussed in
light of the diverse interpretations concerning the
meaning of Lie scales.
