Re: Another bogus personality test

Subject: Re: Another bogus personality test
From: Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:11:49 -0700

There is absolutely no correct answer in this question and that is exactly the way questions like this are designed. When designing polls and questions that require subjective answers, it is best to completely avoid the neutral middle position and to force test takers to take a side.

Within the scope of a personality test, multiple questions are asked to draw an accurate picture of the subject that is not neutral. An effectively designed test with the question you provided should have two more variations of the same question, so that there will be three answers. If the answers conflict, then there is a problem with the subject or the person answering the questions. If two or three answers are consistent, then there is probability that the subject of the test reflects the person's perception.


On 10/22/2012 5:59 AM, Dan Goldstein wrote:

These things are such easy targets, but I'm still amazed that some
companies actually use them. From one I received this morning:

"[name] gets:
* somewhat impatient when things move too slowly
* very impatient when things move too slowly
* somewhat frustrated when things move too quickly
* very frustrated when things move too quickly"

You have to choose one of the four. There's no choice for people who
keep their cool regardless of the pace.


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Another bogus personality test: From: Dan Goldstein

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