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intro.psych (Psyco 105) Discussion: Group 3 Discussion Group: Personality: Sites to Visit: VALS Questionnaire - A Basic Personality Questionnaire
By Patricia on Wednesday, October 14, 1998 - 03:16 pm:
Try this personality inventory from SRI.
One aspect of this test that seemed to suggest that it was biased was all the questions surrounding fashion. In other cultures, looking fashionable might not be a priority-due to economics or values, for instance.
Culture bias can even happen in the same country. For example, at the place I'm working right now, there is a mathematical formula that the head office in Toronto uses to figure out hours. They use the amount of money made at the store and use a mathematical formula to figure out the number of hours. This mathematical formula is constant across Canada. This formula is based on testing done in Ontario and also tells the store how many hours to put into each department of the store depending on people's spending habits in Ontario. One of the problems we are finding right now is that one department has extra people while another department has too little people. One of the reasons for this, it has been discussed, is that the formula is not a valid formula for all people in Canada (i.e. We do not have the same spending habits here in Western Canada as those in Eastern Canada.)
The test had many questions about small groups of subjects. LIke all the questions about fashion, does; it would be interesting to see how people in other countries responded or even if it was on the VALS test. DOes that say something about US society? And What about the religious questions, or the women questions, they are all culturally bias, because in all cultures women are treated differently.
Read the comments for non-American users of this test. What, if anything, does this suggest to you about the role of culture in personality testing? This test fairly suggests that non-Americans should regard their results as non-valid: not all tests are as fair. You are taking this test just for fun (or for educational value). Can you think of situations in which culture bias in personality testing may have more serious consequences? (hint: think of forensic or legal uses of testing).
Go There
Back to Personality Sites to Visit
By Jene on Tuesday, November 3, 1998 - 08:28 pm:
I had to take a personality test when I worked for Eddie Bauer. Basically, it was pretty obvious that they wanted someone outgoing-so all you had to do was fill in the responses appropriately. However, tests like this one for job placement might contain cultural bias, thereby excluding individuals who fail to "fit" the desired personality.
By Montresor on Tuesday, November 3, 1998 - 09:38 pm:
This is perhaps a problem with personality testing. This proves that different places in the same country might have different results than another place.
By Mollyc on Wednesday, November 4, 1998 - 10:48 am:
I guess I'm on here late, but which on e do you want me to summarize.