Objective tests are different from obtrusive tests, because objective tests are not projective in nature. Projective tests are based on Freudian Psychology (Psychoanalysis) and seek to expose the unconscious perceptions of people.

An objective test is built by following a rigurous protocol which includes the following steps:

• Making decisions on nature, goal, target population, power.
• Creating a bank of questions.
• Estimating the validity of the questions, by means of statistical procedures and/or judgement of experts in the field.
• Designing a format of application (a clear, easy-to-answer questionnaire, or an interview, etc.).
• Detecting which questions are better in terms of discrimination, clarity, ease of response, upon application on a pilot sample.
• Applying a revised questionnaire or interview to a sample.
• Use appropriate statistical procedures to establish norms for the test.