The item response tree (IR-tree) model is increasingly used in the field of personality assessments. The IR-tree model allows researchers to examine the cognitive decision-making process using a tree structure and evaluate conceptual ideas in accounting for individual differences in the response process. Recent research has shown the feasibility of applying IR-tree models to personality data; however, these studies have been exclusively focused on an honest or incumbent sample rather than a motivated sample in a high-stakes situation. The goal of our research is to elucidate the internal mechanism behind how respondents in different testing situations (i.e., honest and motivated test conditions) experience decision-making processes through the three-process IR-tree model (Böckenholt, 2012). Our findings generally corroborate the response mechanism of the direction–extremity–midpoint sequence in both honest and motivated test settings. Additionally, samples in motivated test settings generally exhibit stronger directional and extreme response preferences but weaker preferences of midpoint selection than samples in unmotivated test settings. Furthermore, for actual job applicants, social desirability had a substantial effect on all directional, extreme, and midpoint response preferences. Our findings will aid researchers and practitioners in developing a nuanced understanding of the decision-making process of test-takers in motivated test environments. Furthermore, this research will help researchers and practitioners develop more fake-resistant personality assessments.

项目响应树（IR-tree）模型越来越多地用于人格评估领域。IR-tree 模型允许研究人员使用树结构检查认知决策过程，并评估概念想法以解释响应过程中的个体差异。最近的研究表明，将 IR-tree 模型应用于个性数据的可行性；然而，这些研究只关注诚实或在职的样本，而不是高风险情况下的积极样本。我们研究的目标是通过三过程 IR-tree 模型（Böckenholt，2012）阐明不同测试情况（即诚实和积极的测试条件）中的受访者如何体验决策过程背后的内部机制。我们的研究结果通常证实了在诚实和积极的测试设置中方向-肢体-中点序列的响应机制。此外，与无动机测试设置中的样本相比，动机测试设置中的样本通常表现出更强的方​​向性和极端响应偏好，但​​对中点选择的偏好较弱。此外，对于实际的求职者，社会期望对所有方向的、极端的和中点的反应偏好都有很大的影响。我们的研究结果将帮助研究人员和从业人员深入了解考生在积极的考试环境中的决策过程。此外，这项研究将帮助研究人员和从业者开发更多的抗假人格评估。