Personality Assessment

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Who am I? Who are you? Are we compatible? Is this job right for me? There are all questions people have asked at one time or another. A better question might be can we truly find an answer to whom we are? According to the millions of personality tests and millions of people who take them, someone must believe you can. Personality tests are vast and can be found on many different websites, but tow of the more reputable tests would be the Myers-Briggs test and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. When looking at personality tests, it is important to look at how they work, the reliability and validity of the test, the circumstances under which using the test would be indicated, and factors that the test takers should consider.

Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers developed the Myers-Briggs test. (Viawest, 2004) This test was adapted from the theories of Carl Jung.

The MBTI as it is know, uses a linear, four factor model to characterize invariant patterns of behavior of the individual throughout his or her lifetime. (Viawest) By answering questions based off what one thinks, feels, or reacts, this test determines the type of person you are. The test describes what people have in mind. (viawest) MBTI breaks these results into the following categories: extroversion, introversion/sensing, intuition/thinking, feeling/judging, and perceiving. (Wikipedia, 2006) At the end of the test, you are given a four-letter result depending on what percentage you received in each category. David Keirsey developed the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. This test uses a system field theory model to characterize behavioral patterns. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter again uses a series of questions that one is supposed to answer instinctually. Because the theories behind these tests vary drastically, may be why some criticize personality tests...