Personality test

Personality test is a method of assessing human personality constructs. Most personality assessment instruments (despite being loosely referred to as "personality tests") are in fact introspective (i.e., subjective) self-report questionnaire (Q-data, in terms of LOTS data) measures or reports from life records (L-data) such as rating scales.

History

The origins of personality testing date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when personality was assessed through phrenology, the measurement of bumps on the human skull, and physiognomy, which assessed personality based on a person's outer appearances.

Types of tests

There are two major types of personality tests, projective tests and objective tests. Projective tests involve presenting a vague, ambiguous stimulus to the test taker and asking them to interpret it. Objective tests, on the other hand, are structured and standardized measures in which the test taker responds to a set of specific questions.

Criticism

Personality tests have been criticized on ethical and technical grounds. They have been accused of invading privacy, being susceptible to faking, and reinforcing damaging stereotypes.

See also

• Psychometrics
• Big Five personality traits
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
• Myers–Briggs Type Indicator

External links

• American Psychological Association: Personality Tests

Personality test Resources
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