Final answer:
The three research methods to study faking in personality assessments are self-report inventories, which are susceptible to social desirability bias; projective tests, which uncover unconscious processes; and validity scales, such as the Lie Scale, to detect insincere responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three research methods used to study faking on personality assessments include self-report inventories, projective tests, and validity scales such as the Lie Scale.
Self-report inventories are questionnaire-based tools where individuals rate themselves on a series of statements to assess their personality traits. Examples include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). These can be vulnerable to social desirability biases where individuals may present themselves in a more favorable light.
Projective tests are based on the defense mechanism of projection and aim to uncover unconscious desires and feelings. These include the Rorschach Inkblot Test and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). They are less susceptible to faking because the right answers are not clear to the participants.
The validity scales within tests like the MMPI are designed to measure the sincerity of responses. The Lie Scale, for example, detects 'faking good' by including items that no one would be expected to endorse truthfully.