Interpreting personality assessments (a)

In this unit, you will be introduced to the basics of interpreting personality assessments, learning how to avoid common errors such as spurious validity and confirmatory bias. Dr Graham Tyler explains the importance of using evidence-based methods, warns against misleading general statements known as the Barnum and Forer effects, and highlights the value of choosing reputable, well-validated tests. You will also discover what to look out for in test publishers and how to ensure your interpretations are specific and grounded in good scientific practice.

After this talk, you will:

• Understand the basics of interpreting personality assessments.

• Know why personality assessments are different and more complex to interpret than ability or aptitude tests.

• Be aware of the risks of confirmatory bias and the need to look for all evidence, supporting or refuting your hypotheses.

• Recognise the importance of being scientific in your approach and relying on well-established evidence, not just personal opinion or gut feeling.

• Be able to identify and avoid spurious or "faith" validity when using personality assessments.

• Understand what the Barnum and Forer effects are, and why general statements can mislead people into thinking tests are accurate when they are not.

• Spot warning signs of unreliable tests, such as lack of professional accreditation, glossy materials over substance, and absence of proper technical data.

• Appreciate the importance of local validation, appropriate norms, and technical evidence for choosing and using a personality test.

• Know that good test publishers should make their statistics clear and relevant, without "bamboozling" you or hiding essential information.

• Be equipped to avoid writing overly general feedback reports, using more specific and individualised interpretations instead.

• Understand the need for gathering corroborative evidence when giving feedback to others based on personality profiles.