Why test? It’s important and it’s fun. It is important because you discover vital knowledge about yourself and your partner. It is fun because, unless you are really badly mismatched, it opens up a fascinating world of discovery about both of you. Some material you will already know. But typically there will be some insights based on results that are very insightful. The process was certainly beneficial for Elizabeth and myself during our courtship.
Three different tests are mentioned in Chapter 8 of The Compatibility Code; we discuss briefly (and provide the web sites) for four tests here: Two Personality-type tests [the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness)] and two traditional style personality tests [the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis test (TJTA) and the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)].
We select these four because of their validity. All four tests have been on the market for many decades (3.5 decades for the DISC, the most recent) and have been administered to millions and millions of people. Each test has been scientifically normed and updated many times and their validity and usefulness is beyond question.
“But can’t I get something for free on the internet?” I hear you cry. Certainly! Thousands and thousands of them, most of them total trash. Be wise: Use a real test that has withstood the test of time.
Type Test
What is the difference between a “type” test and a traditional test?
The “type “ test measures four basic personality constructs and then the combinations of high or low ratings on each of these provides a personality profile that will have you grunting “yes, yes, un huh, yes, how’d they know that?” The interesting aspect of the MBTI and the DISC is that you will come up with a few surprises that are often very insightful.
The four scales of the MBTI are:
- Extraversion-Introversion
- Thinking-Feeling
- Sensing-Intuiting
- Judging-Perceiving
The four scales of the DISC are:
- Dominance
- Influence
- Steadiness
- Conscientiousness
Traditional Test
The traditional personality test measures how high or low you are on a number of different scales. Such tests do not attempt to combine scales to come up some unique “type”. The TJTA had 9 different scales; the 16PF measures 16 different scales. The 16PF scales follow:
Reserved – outgoing
Abstract thinking – concrete thinking
Emotionally unstable – emotionally stable
Humble – assertive
Sober – happy-go-lucky
Expedient – conscientious
Shy – venturesome
Tough minded – tender minded
Trusting – suspicious
Practical – imaginative
Forthright – shrewd
Placid – apprehensive
Conservative – experimenting
Group-tied – self-sufficient
Casual – controlled
Relaxed – tense
We think it would be most beneficial to take one test of each type.
Below are the links to the four different tests. I believe that all four offer an on-line version for a modest fee.
Link for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
Link for the DISC
http://www.discprofile.com/
Link for the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis
http://www.tjta.com/
Link for the 16PF.
http://www.16pfworld.com/questionnaire.html
