• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Myers Briggs Personality Tests. Or any other Similar Test. Valid?

StarMan

StarMan

Vice Admiral
Admiral
I am in a state of flux determining what steps to take next career-wise so took a test purportedly based on the Myers Briggs model: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

My result was ENFJ, which is on the money in a couple of respects, but there are conclusions made that I find hard to reconcile with.

I'd like to know from others with more experience with these types of tests their overall validity and whether one should be wary of reading too deep into them. Also are there any tests out there anyone can recommend for someone in my scenario? Cheers! :techman:
 
I'm not familiar with any scientific research on the Myers Briggs model, but in general I wouldn't trust free tests on the Internet. Why not talk to a career counselor instead?
 
I wouldn't necessarily rely on "pop psychology" to determine or decide on my next career move. If you're looking into developing or enhancing skills, like written or oral communication, why not take some classes?

My employer offers tuition reimbursement to people who go back to school or take personal-enrichment courses as well as in-house training on emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, project management, or negotiating skills. I'm sure other companies offer similar programs.
 
I just did the Myers Brigg's personality test and I think, at least as far as I am concerned, it was spot on for me. Among its suggestion for me was Natural Science and Librarian.

The most enjoyable job I ever had was working as a library technician in a geology based library.
 
The actual Myers-Briggs inventory has been widely used for decades and is not pop psychology. In my experience, it's worth using. The short freebie versions online, not so much.
 
The Keirsey-Bates test (now known simply as the Keirsey Temperament Sorter) is another "personality" test, very similar to the Myers-Brigg, which is also widely respected. LINK
 
The MBTI is a good system, but it's worth remembering that personality types are just broad profiles--they don't control your destiny and they don't define you as a person.

My MBTI type is INTJ, and the profiles I've read for those are pretty accurate, albeit not exact.
 
As with more concepts in life than you may realise, it's very hard to say if something has validity or not.

The MBTI does very well on some measures of validity (things like inter- and intra-operator reliability and face validity) and less well on others (like having an external reference standard). Putting statistical gobbledygook aside, the MBTI can best be described as a very good test for what it wants to test. It's not just a "cold reading" applicable to anyone, as for example an astrological or psychic prediction would be.

It's up to you to decide whether what it wants to test has meaning or not. I personally think it does, but I'm generally Jungian in conceptual outlook and the MBTI leans quite heavily on Jungian psychological types so my personal perspective is influenced by that.

Leaving all of that aside, the MBTI is frequently used in situations it is not really designed for (and therefore lacks validity in those settings even on its on terms) and the online free versions are abridged, inevitably reducing their inter-operator reliability compared to the full battery.

More generally, if MBTI helps you develop a better & stronger understnnding of yourself, that is a good thing.
 
Well the Myers-Briggs personality types, is merely supposed to be an indicator. I've taken severl on-line purely for fun. And I generally score (in order) INTJ (the rarest type) or an ISTJ. Though reading the information on them I would say the INTJ feels a better fit for me.
 
I know that INTJs are supposed to be rare, but they're all online! I feel like I'm surrounded by them!

I'm with Holdfast in terms of it being a useful tool if it helps you understand aspects of yourself more. I think we all have to be careful not to cherry-pick though. It's easy to use something like this to reinforce what you believe about yourself without actually thinking more critically and keeping an open mind about aspects of yourself.
 
RevdKathy said:
I took the Myers-Briggs test once. I failed. :(
Click to expand...

You did better than me. The test told me I was a Virgo. I don't believe a word of it... but then again that's the sort of thing a Virgo might say. :wtf:


But seriously... I made use of a formal Myers Briggs test not too long ago. It suggested that I fitted the very rare (if not the rarest) profile INFJ. Reading more about what the INFJ profile comprises, I could understand why I might fit that profile in some aspects, although for other aspects of the profile I'm not so sure. My career adviser found the result "interesting." :vulcan:

trekkiedane said:
Nerys Myk said:
I use the Voight-Kampff test when hiring. ;)
Click to expand...

As long as you don't use the pencil test...
Click to expand...
Maybe it's my lack of knowledge, but I read this and thought of The Dark Knight. :angel:
 
I've taken this many times, starting back in high school. Since college, I've come up as an INTJ, so I haven't changed over the decades. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. :confused:
 
Kestra said:
I know that INTJs are supposed to be rare, but they're all online! I feel like I'm surrounded by them!

I'm with Holdfast in terms of it being a useful tool if it helps you understand aspects of yourself more. I think we all have to be careful not to cherry-pick though. It's easy to use something like this to reinforce what you believe about yourself without actually thinking more critically and keeping an open mind about aspects of yourself.
Click to expand...

Well that might be because certain types gravitate more towards certain things. I types might find it easier to interact with others online rather than in person. As I types are said to find large social gatherings tiring whilst E types are said to prefer these.

As for being surround by INTJ's on here, perhaps that's because we tend to gravitate towards each other, after all with another INTJ at least we'll know we'll be understood.

After all if INTJ's are the rarest type(2% I think), that means you are less likely to come across one in person. They'' quite often shun the spotlight, are said to make excellent second in commands (not that they won't take command).

Perhaps they are more INTJ's out there than what the data says, but I suspect most people ignore them, they'll be one quietly getting on with their work, sat in the corner reading, having a coffee etc... In essence they are most likely to be the ones you don't look at twice.

Though one of their weaker areas is said to be in the love area.

But as I said earlier it's only an indicator at best, but doing those test online are a bit of fun.
 
Oh, I get why certain types are online. I just think it's funny! My husband is an INTJ as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top