Personality Test By: Darren Aycock Eric Helms Stephen Schloss Amanda Siler Melissa Walker

What is a Personality Test? A test, usually involving a standardized series of questions or tasks, used to describe or evaluate a subject's personality characteristics. Uses: Applicant Screening Promotion Reducing turnover Career Assessment

Myers Briggs Test Letters are assigned to each personality by answering a number of questions. People are classified using four main criteria Extraversion - Introversion Sensing - Intuition Thinking - Feeling Judging - Perceiving

Myers Briggs Example Myers Briggs Test

Keirsey Temperament Test People are sorted into Temperaments: Artisans The Entertainers: Composers & Performers The Operators: Crafters & Promoters Guardians Administrators: Inspectors & Supervisors Conservators: Protectors & Providers Idealists The Advocates: Healers & Champions The Mentors: Counselors & Teachers Rationals The Engineers: Architects & Inventors The Coordinators: Masterminds & FieldMarshals

Picture Personality Test Class Exercise What does the Picture say about you? 1. Carefree, Playful, & Cheerful 2. Independent, Unconventional, & Unfettered 3. Introspective, Sensitive, & Reflective 4. Down to Earth, Well-Balanced, & Harmonious 5. Professional, Pragmatic, & Self-Assured 6. Peaceful, Discreet, & Non-Aggressive 7. Analytical, Trustworthy, & Self-Assured 8. Romantic, Dreamy, & Emotional 9. Dynamic, Active, & Extroverted For a more detailed description go to http://www.cs.ucr.edu/~chua/test/test.html

Thematic Apperception Test Shown ambiguous pictures Applicant/Employee asked to construct a story about events leading up to the picture Detailed discussion of what characters are thinking and doing Thought that person will project themselves into the story

Thematic Apperception Test Example

Pros & Cons of Personality Testing Does better than management at predicting job performance Adaptive unconscious Evaluates, filters, looks for patterns in data Reduce risk of incorrect judgment of potential employee’s characters Cons- Analyzed by psychologist Considered Medical exam Pass/Fail system Inconsistent / Unreliable Could be discrimitory

Tips for Management Make sure test has been statistically validated for your use Carefully follow directions in administrating it Never use personality tests as the only measure of an employee’s job performance Always provide feedback to applicant/ employee on how they did Allow time for questions

Five Factor Model of Personality Conscientiousness Organized, systematic, thorough, practical, neat, efficient, careful, hardworking, achievement-striving, persistent Emotional Stability / Adjustment Not being anxious, moody, temperamental, emotional, nervous, depressed, touchy, fearful Agreeableness / Likability Kind, cooperative, sympathetic, warm, trustful, considerate, pleasant, helpful Extraversion Talkative, assertive, verbal, energetic, bold, active, daring Openness to Experience / Intellectance Unconventional, open to new ideas, questioning, curious, creative, imaginative

Questions For Individual Factors Conscientiousness: Do you set goals when beginning a new job or task? Answering “yes” to this question shows high Adjustment Conscientiousness Dependability: Do you have a problem with authority? Answering “yes” to this question shows low Dependability Conscientiousness Emotional Stability / Adjustment: Does stress on the job effect you in a negative way or are you able to accept it calmly? Accepting work stress in a calm way shows high Emotional Stability Agreeableness / Likeability When you meet someone are you kind and warm or do you keep to yourself and allow them to open up? Someone who is open and friendly during an introduction shows high Agreeableness and Likeability

Questions For Individual Factors Extraversion While working, do you prefer to interact with customers or work behind the scenes? Showing appropriate forcefulness, persuasiveness and energy in a managerial position is an example of high Extraversion Openness to Experience / Intellectance When solving a problem, do you look for new, more efficient solutions or use the same solution you’ve used in the past? Answering “yes” to this question means that you most likely rank high in Openness to Experience and Intellectance.

Sources Business Source Premier Dictionary.com Pros and Cons Employers should Consider Personality Profiles Dictionary.com Thematic Apperception Test TAT Example CNN.com – Personality test help gauge job fit