PERSONALITY TESTS

There are two major types of personality tests. Projective tests assume personality is primarily unconscious and assess an individual by how he or she responds to an ambiguous stimulus, like an ink blot. The idea is unconscious needs will come out in the person's response, e.g., an aggressive person may see images of destruction. Objective tests assume personality is consciously accessible and measure it by self-report questionnaires. Research on psychological assessment has generally found objective tests are more valid and reliable than projective tests. Examples of personality tests include:

• Holland Codes

• Keirsey Temperament Sorter

• Kelly's Repertory Grid

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

• Morrisby Profile

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

• NEO PI-R

• ProScan Survey by PDP

Table 12.2 Holland's Theory of Personality-Job Fit

• Rorschach test

• Thematic Apperception Test.

Holland's Personality Theory

The Career Key is based on John Holland's theory of career choice. The theory explains work-related behavior - such as, which career choices are likely to lead to job success and satisfaction. It also explains other human actions, like success and satisfaction in school and training programs. It is the best known and most widely researched theory on this topic and is used by most career counselors.

Understanding Holland's theory will help you make good choices - decisions about which occupations, careers, majors, or training programs best fit you.

When you take the Career Key test you will receive What Your Test Scores Mean (sample page), a booklet that explains Holland's theory and how your test scores are related to it and career choice. Holland's theory can be summarized in six statements:

1. In our culture, most people are one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.

2. People of the same personality type working together in a job create a work environment that fits their type. For example, when Artistic persons are together on a job, they create a work environment that rewards creative thinking and behavior - an Artistic environment.

3. There are six basic types of work environments: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.

4. People search for environments where they can use their skills and abilities and express their values and attitudes. For example, Investigative types search for Investigative environments; Artistic types look for Artistic environments and so forth.

5. People who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied. For example, Artistic persons are more likely to be successful and satisfied if they choose a job that has an Artistic environment, like choosing to be a dance teacher in a dancing school - an environment "dominated" by Artistic type people where creative abilities and expression are highly valued.

6. How you act and feel at work depends to a large extent on your workplace (or school) environment. If you are working with people who have a personality type like yours, you will be able to do many of the things they can do and you will feel most comfortable with them. How is this related to the scores you receive on the Career Key?