RELIABILITY OF MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI) TEST

Answer

Summary of the Test Results
The purpose of the test is to classify an individual on four levels as identified by Jung's theory and provide a description of their personality. On each of the successive levels that are used in the identification of an individual's personality, there are dual options on each level coming up to a total of eight diverse tenets that can be used to describe a person's character (Lu & Hsiao 2010). The levels that are ascribed to the MBTI are; Introversion v Extraversion, Intuition v Sensing, Feeling v Thinking and Perceiving v Judging. The test is age appropriate, mainly focusing on groups of people aged 14 and above, although there is no specific group that is not legible to take the test.
After taking the test, my results indicated that I am introverted, intuitive, prefer thinking, and Judging. From the Meyer brig table, this is INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging). The results imply that I am an introvert and thus prefer keeping alone rather than being in the company of other. I agree with this since it is true I relish moments when I am alone that when in social gathering or when in a crowd. Again, on intuition, I agree with the test results because I tend to seek knowledge with little or no conscious reasoning or rather evidence. With respect to thinking I do not quite agree with the results because while making a decision, I often try to establish the basic truth behind the underlying principles as opposed to just looking at the pros and cons of specific situation then decide. Lastly, my actions are not predictable at all because I do not approach issues in a conventional way or rather come up with plans and execute them in a predictable way.
Although the MBTI is an impeccable depiction of an individual's personality, it has been established that the available information placed on the public domain warrants extreme caution in its applicability as a counseling mechanism, especially with its coherence to the diverse and dynamic social environments (Sethuraman & Suresh 2014). This is by far the most incepted self-diagnosis offered to establish personality type as an adjunct to selecting, placing and counseling individuals. The Myers-Briggs Indicator Test, popularly known as the MBTI test, is an accurate personality testing inventory across the divide.
The intricacies incorporated within the test are accurate. Most of the questions that are raised within the questionnaire are not only pragmatic to the daily lives of individuals, but also very imperative. The test is mainly used in organizational settings to delineate how individuals with different or similar personalities interact with one another. From a personal perspective, and in line with the widely held perception, I have enjoyed discovering my type through filling out the MBTI and similar inventories via the internet.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Test
The MBTI has received great acclamation and criticism in equal measure. Although the test is depicted as one to measure something, a substantive number of psychologists are not convinced that any delineated conclusions can be drawn from the test; some of them resonate to its interpretation while others relate to the psychometric issues of the MBTI test itself (McShane & Von Glinow 2011). Most of the spin-offs and back lash emanates from professional personality psychologists –a good number of them deeming the test quite meaningless. It is imperative to take note that in-depth analyses of the complaints that have been brought forth to this extent are a culmination of similar ideas. Some of the criticisms that have been discussed overtime include, but not limited to;
• With respect to the development of the test and the persons involved, their prequalification has been put to question because neither of them has psychometric or psychological assessments. However, to counter these claims, both Myers and Briggs may not have had formal training in the areas mentioned, but they are registered as college-educated, highly intelligent, observant, passionate and thoughtful when it comes to comprehending an individual's personality. According to Myers (2010), even people who are equipped with formal psychology training can establish personality traits as good as those who have professional developed scales.
• The MBTI test is based on Jung's theory of types. The scholar does not command a lot of respect from many academic scholars who term him as a mystic who has insurmountable ideas that bear scientific relevance. In as much as assertions have questioned the scientific ideas of Jung –specifically on alchemy, paranormal, synchronicity and collective unconscious psychological types –the concepts brought forth fundamental aspects of extraversion introversion which scientific personality psychologists find very interesting to use.
• With regard to structure, the test is divided into 16 categories. However, many psychologists coherent to the interpersonal differences with respect to personality are better described by continuous mannerisms as opposed to discrete forms. It is their assertion that the distribution of scores of the scales is continuous, with most of them concentrated in the middle as opposed to at the end of the type theory ascribes to. Type theory is a complex and dynamic tenet that does not entirely disintegrate to distribution scores and whether persons can be placed into the inherent discrete categories. It should be noted that there are very complex issues that are successful and well-supported type theories.
• Contenders to the MBTI test deem it as very accurate while critics claim that there is no research indicating that the scores emanating from the test predict significant life events such as satisfaction and job performance. The psychological issues that are measured by the MBTI are not very diverse from the traits that are coherent to the Five-Factor Model (FFM). At the same time, research conducted by Capretz and Ahmed (2010) shows that the non-scored items on can be scored to come up with a measurement of neuroticism.
An in-depth look at the criticisms of the test establishes that none of the criticisms can be accurately substantiated. In fact, some arguments have been brought forth to explore that some of the literature that has been put forth only tries to water down the success and acclimation of the MBTI test (Radwan 2014). However, this does not mean that the test is perfect –beyond criticism. From this literal study, the major issue with the test is not mostly inclined towards the inventory issues, but mostly on how it is scored and subsequently interpreted. No personality test is reliable enough to distinguish 16 categories which are the reason why people are able to get multivariate forms of profiles when they take the inventory on many occasions. It is still very possible to come up with dyadic exercises and group activities in which people have different scores on the MBTI test.