John E. Kurtz, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
218 Tolentine Hall
Email: [email protected]
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
(Pennsylvania #PS-008592-L)
cvita_jkurtz_aug_2022.pdf | |
File Size: | 139 kb |
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In the Psychological Assessment Laboratory, we pursue an original research program on several topics related to personality and individual differences and problems of psychological assessment. We have conducted several studies of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the NEO Inventories, such as their validity and utility in cases of traumatic brain injury. Other studies have examined PAI techniques designed to detect concealed psychopathology in selection contexts. We are open to diverse methodologies and interested in alternative approaches to personality assessment, such as the advantages of using informant raters and the predictive validity of sentence completion and narrative techniques. An important focus of our research is the construction and validation of psychological tests utilizing both structured and unstructured methods. My research team examines different forms of response distortion and the possibility of making effective clinical decisions with defensive or strategic self-presentations. Our studies of college students provide an opportunity to address more basic research questions about the patterns of development in personality among young adults and the identification of psychological maturity. Ultimately, we would like to contribute to a better understanding of the incidence and extent of personality change as a consequence of expected or unexpected life events during the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood (18 to 25 years).