Psychometric Tests | Demystifying the ‘What’ and ‘Why’

When an upset customer describes a problem, which action should be avoided?

1. Spending too much time listening to the customer’s description of the problem.
2. Gently asking the customer to calm down so that you can help.
3. Suggesting that the customer speaks to the manager.
4. Promising to follow up on problem resolution.

As candidates, we would have come across such questions in our recruitment process. As employers, we have force-fit them somewhere in the recruitment, giving it a bloated name – ‘Psychometric Testing’ although not clear enough about what purpose Psychometric Tests serve. So, sometimes we even wonder if we’re incorporating Psychometric Tests just because the rest of the world is.

What is all the fuzz and fad about psychometric tests? Also, are they of any significant value?

What are Psychometric Tests?

Psychometric tests are partly designed to assess cognitive skills – decision-making skills, abstract thinking, problem-solving skills, and primarily to understand the innate behavioral traits of candidates. And that part of psychometric tests designed for assessing behavioral traits is called Personality Tests.

   Looking for Psychometric Testing Software? Check out the best psychometric testing software.

Types of Personality Testing Models

1. The NEO Personality Inventory well known as Big5 Psychometric Tests

The NEO Personality Inventory is most commonly used for pre-employment assessments as a part of recruitment.

They are based on 5 major traits:

Openness

Openness describes a person’s tendency to think in abstract, complex ways. High scorers tend to be creative, adventurous, and intellectual. High scores are more likely to enjoy creative jobs like design, copywriting, and marketing. On the other hand, Low scorers tend to be practical, conventional and focused on the concrete. Also, low scorers are typically very dedicated to any work they do, and always make sure to see their tasks through to the end.

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness describes a person’s ability to exercise self-discipline in order to pursue their goals. High scorers are organized and determined, seek long-term achievement. Low scorers are impulsive and easily sidetracked.

Extraversion

Extraversion describes a person’s inclination to seek stimulation from the outside world, especially in the form of attention from other people. Extroverts engage actively with others to earn friendship, admiration, power, status, excitement, and romance. Introverts, on the other hand, conserve their energy and do not work as hard to earn these social rewards.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness describes a person’s tendency to put others’ needs ahead of their own and to cooperate rather than compete with others. In the case of high scorers, they experience a great deal of empathy and tend to get pleasure out of serving and taking care of others. They are usually trusting and forgiving. Low scorers tend to experience less empathy and put their own concerns ahead of others.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism describes a person’s tendency to experience negative emotions, including fear, sadness, anxiety, guilt, and shame. Hence, while everyone experiences these emotions from time to time, some people are more prone to them than others. So, low neuroticism scorers are more likely to have mental toughness.

Note: Although Big5 has got some insignificant internal flaws, this model is THE most preferred one for pre-employment testing.

2. The Myers-Briggs Psychometric Model

Myers-Briggs psychometric tests or most widely known as ’16 Personality Tests’ are based on 4 basic principles.

1. Extraversion Vs. Introversion –> describes how a person gets energized

2. Sensing Vs. Intuition –> describes how a person takes in information

3. Thinking Vs. Feeling –> describes the means a person uses to make decisions

4. Judging Vs. Perceiving –> describes the speed with which a person makes decisions

Drawbacks: 

1. Not very reliable as test-takers get different results if they take the test more than once.
2. Firstly, candidates appear for test. As per the personality type they will be labeled.
3. So, there are 16 different personality types. No relevant backed-up research is conducted to prove the claim and validity.

3. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

The Minnesota Multiphasic Psychometric tests are predominantly used to assess high-risk roles in: Aviation Industry and Public Safety. Employers use these psychometric tests to assess the mental health of the candidates that would directly have an impact on the workplace.

The MMPI test has 10 sections also called Scales:

Scale 1 – Hypochondriasis (Hs)

Within this section, there are 32 questions that focus on how a candidate might perceive various complaints that relate to their health.

Scale 2 – Depression (D)

There are 57 questions in this section, which aim to evaluate whether the candidate is showing signs of clinical depression. Therefore, these questions determine the hopelessness and negativity of the candidate.

Scale 3 – Hysteria (Hy)

Through a series of 60 questions, this section is designed to identify people who are overly emotional or display hysteria in stressful situations.

Scale 4 – Psychopathic Deviate (Pd)

In this tests there are more than 50 questions that make up this section. In this situation, questions are about issues that relate to social maladjustment, rebelliousness, and antisocial behavior. Candidates will be asked about issues they may have with family or authority figures.

Scale 5 – Masculinity/Femininity (Mf)

Through 56 questions, the Masculinity/Femininity scale explores how a candidate might conform to a masculine or feminine stereotype. It looks at activity-passivity, hobbies and career choices, and personal sensitivity.

Scale 6 – Paranoia (Pa)

This scale measures a candidate’s ability or inability to trust others. Through 40 questions, candidates will be questioned on issues such as levels of suspiciousness, self-righteousness, and sensitivity. The method of questioning in this section will reveal any tendencies for paranoia or psychotic behaviour.

Scale 7 – Psychasthenia (Pt)

The term ‘Psychasthenia’ has now been replaced by ‘Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The test contains 48 questions that aim to evaluate the presence of certain obsessive tendencies as well as anxiety, fear, doubts, and guilt.

Scale 8 – Schizophrenia (Sc)

In the longest section of the test, candidates will need to progress through a total of 78 questions. During this section, candidates will be assessed for unusual cognitive, emotional, and social tendencies that might suggest schizophrenia.

Scale 9 – Hypomania (Ma)

This scale has 46 questions and measures a candidate for elevated energy levels and unstable moods. In this case, candidates will be asked about things that would indicate excitability. Such as rapid thoughts, accelerated speech, or restless body movements. It also covers elements such as irritability, narcissism, or egocentricity.

Scale 10 – Social Introversion (Si)

The tenth and final category in the MMPI-2 test features 69 questions. The Social Introversion scale measures whether a candidate is comfortable around others and in social situations. For example, introverts might be uncomfortable in large groups or over-stimulating social situations.

4. The Birkman Model

Birkman model of psychometric tests identifies the underlying motivations and occupational needs of a potential candidate. 

Birkman test measures:

1. Interests – what you enjoy and what motivates you in your personal and professional life.
2. Behaviors – how effective and productive your behavioral style is when performing tasks and in relationships.
3. Stress Management – how ineffective and unproductive your behavioral style is when your needs are not met.
4. Organizational Orientation – how you manage and organize your personal and professional life.

Red = Doer

In most situations, doers are go getters. They enjoy hands-on work, project management and solving practical problems. However, sometimes they act aggressive if work in not done.

Green = Communicator

Communicators enjoy working with people. They excel at selling, pitching, counseling, teaching and other vocations which require working with people. Communicators often have a natural confidence and make friends easily.

Yellow = Analyzer 

Analyzers love rules and processes and have great attention to detail. They enjoy order, record-keeping and developing systems. They also tend to be cautious and value fairness. Analyzers tend to prefer indirect communication and may become stressed by change.

Blue = Thinker 

Thinkers love ideas and concepts. They can think abstractly. Hence, they are innovative problem solvers and tend to work best alongside other creative people. However, they may find it difficult to cope with demanding problems and require extra support.

But, every psychometric model has some internal flaws they are not suitably tailor-made for work-related situations. This is where Xobin pops up and brings out the customized psychometric model! You pick and choose the personality traits you want to assess. Also, it defines your organization’s culture and the role you’re hiring for. Therefore, we shall customize the tests based on your needs.

How Reliable are Xobin’s Psychometric Tests

Psychometric Tests are not 100% reliable. Also, all psychometric tests providers provide a full disclaimer not to make decisions solely based on psychometric tests.

 1. Construct validity: In this case, our questions are aligned to the trait. Also, with the competencies that need to be assessed.

For example, if you want to test a truck driver. In this case, you can not use the “leadership traits” or “innovation traits” test.

 2. Criterion validity: Does the test associate with, and/or predict, an appropriate outcome?

For example, if the psychometric test is for Sales representative. Hence, such a test should provide a binary solution. For example, how Xobin is providing a “Recommended” or “Not Recommended” report.

3. Content Validity: Does the psychometric questionnaire cover all the traits required for the job.

4. Reliability: How reliable are the test results? Does the test work in the same way for everyone who takes it? Also, can we meaningfully compare scores between two people?

5. Internal consistency: Do the psychometric tests have internal constructs to detect candidates faking their personalities?

6. Test-retest reliability: If the same person takes the test twice, do they get the same results?

Applications and Business Benefits of Psychometric Tests

1. Pre-employment Assessment

Assess innate traits of candidates, find culture fitment and role fitment of candidates. So, Xobin’s pre-employment psychometric tests are made of a combination of (a) self-reporting Normative test and (b) Situational judgment tests as mentioned at the start of the article.

2. Boost team productivity

Increase productivity by building teams with complementary strengths. Know what type of leadership style your team requires. Also, identify what motivates each individual member of your team. Therefore, design work environments based on your team’s interests.

3. Reduce turnover

Assess the dark traits of your candidates and avoid bad hires. So, place the right candidate in the right team, something that aligns with that innate behavioral trait of your candidate.

4. Improve employee-manager collaboration

In this case, learn how to delicately manage employee-manager relationships and understand what provokes potential workplace conflicts. As a result, get to know your compatibility levels and collaboration.

5. Improve succession planning

Identify HiPo candidates with leadership traits, determine job level fit and provide training based on data. Hence, take data-backed succession planning decisions.

So, handpick personality traits from Xobin’s Personality Inventory. After that, we will create a Psychometric test as per your need.