In our day-to-day life, we often come across questions like “How is Mr. X
as a person?” or “How would you describe yourself?”. In both these
questions, people almost always begin to use certain adjectives or terms to
explain what they mean. These terms used are some characteristics that
together form withstanding, consistent, and defining patterns called
personality. Thus, personality can be considered as a conceptualization of
individual behavior and thought processes. The assessment of personality,
therefore, consists of procedures that aim to collect information about an
individual’s characteristics. The information collected is then described in
the form of conclusions and recommendations.
Purpose of Personality Assessment
It is important to point out at the outset that no two personalities are
ever completely the same. This is because even with common personality
elements, individuals usually differ in expressing them. The measurement of
such differences is at the heart of personality assessment. For example, in
a corporate setup, personality assessments help an employer know the
strengths and weaknesses of employees. This information can help the
employer delegate work in a better way.
Another purpose of personality assessment is based on the influence
personality traits have in daily life. Our personalities govern the various
choices we make; personal and professional. Thus, personality assessments
reveal valuable information to guide and improve our decision-making
processes. For example, in an educational setting, the assessment of
personality is an essential element in guiding students toward suitable
career choices.
Personality assessments can provide valuable information about an
individual’s coping styles in stressful conditions. Such an assessment can
also provide an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses.
Types of Personality Assessment
1. Self-Report Inventories: In this format, individuals are provided with
structured, explicit statements and are asked to respond to them by choosing
from a set of alternatives given. The statements used can be related to
behaviors or attitudes or symptoms. By nature, self-report inventories can
be completed with minimum supervision. Some examples of self-report
inventories are as follows:
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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: This measure is designed to collect
information on the psychological preferences of individuals. It seeks to
elicit how an individual perceives the world around them
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NEO Personality Inventory: This inventory provides in-depth
personality-related information by focusing on 5 traits namely,
neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and
conscientiousness.
2. Performance-Based Measure: These measures collect information based on
how an individual performs on standardized tasks. Thus, information is
collected indirectly. Popular measures in this area are as follows:
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Rorschach Inkblot Test: Abstract Inkblots are presented in this test to
determine personality dynamics.
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Thematic Apperception Test: Different pictures are presented in this test
and the test taker is asked to narrate stories based on them. Different
elements of the stories are then interpreted to deduce personality-related
information.
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Sentence Completion Methods: These consist of presenting words and
phrases that the test taker is then asked to give in the form of a
complete sentence. Such methods elicit information about underlying
attitudes, concerns, etc.
Personality assessment holds incredible potential in providing valuable
insights and useful information about individual test takers. Conducting
such an assessment under professional supervision is imperative to ensure
that a reliable and valid measure is used. Furthermore, professional
training becomes especially important when a personality measure is
interpreted according to set norms and rules. These considerations
determine the overall success or failure of the overall assessment.
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Reference
1.Cohen, R. J., Montague, P., Nathanson, L. S., & Swerdlik, M. E. (1988). Psychological testing: an introduction to tests and measurements. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.
2.Weiner, I. & Greene, R. (2008). Handbook of personality assessment. Hoboken, NJ:John Wiley & Sons.
3.Introduction to personality assessment. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/assess/projective_notes.htm
4.The power of personality-a positive framework for lifelong people development. (2015, April 15). Retrieved from https://www.cpp.com/en-US/Products-and-Services/Myers-Briggs.