To answer this question, first, you need to understand why you’re completing certain personality tests. Is it to just have fun, to understand yourself more, to improve the hiring process, or is it for academic research? Once you know the reason, you will know what to look for when deciding whether to trust or not the certain personality test.

Why are you taking a personality test?

If you want to have fun or learn more about yourself, try personality tests like “Which Disney princess are you?” It can be a fun way to pass the time.

If you want to learn about your personality characteristics, it is important to use scientifically validated tests. These tests can help you make important decisions such as choosing a career or a partner. Using these tests will give you accurate results.

Companies use personality tests for hiring and team-building to make better decisions and improve teamwork. Using unreliable tests could lead to costly mistakes or mismatches between employees and their roles.

That’s why businesses need to prioritize using validated assessments that have been proven to accurately predict job performance.

Similarly, academic researchers use personality quizzes to study relationships between traits and outcomes like academic achievement or mental health.

In research, reliability, and validity are crucial for ensuring trustworthy findings. Researchers choose established tests with strong psychometric properties to minimize errors and strengthen the credibility of their studies.

What makes personality quizzes reliable?

Here are factors that influence the reliability of personality tests.

Test design

The design of a personality test plays a significant role in its reliability. Well-designed tests include clear instructions, unambiguous items, and standardized scoring procedures to minimize errors and ensure consistency across administrations.

Psychometric properties

Trustworthy personality tests go through a careful evaluation called “psychometric testing”. This process checks for reliability and validity. Psychometric properties like test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity help to understand how accurate and consistent the test results are.

Choosing the correct environment

Another important aspect is where you’re taking the test and who (if there is one) is conducting the test. Several factors can impact the reliability of test results. Factors that affect test results include where the test is taken, the instructions given, and the person giving the test.

Sample representativeness

This point is important during the analysis process. The sample for a personality test should be like the group of people the test is for. Different people taking the test ensure it accurately measures all traits and reduces biases.

How are you feeling?

How someone feels, stress levels, and motivation can affect test answers and personality test accuracy. Even your hunger levels can define what answers you’ll give to the test. So it’s an important measure to consider.

Are these popular personality quizzes reliable?

There are various personality quiz types, each offering unique insights into individual characteristics and behaviors. Let’s take a closer look at some common ones and assess their reliability across different contexts.

Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI)

The MBTI categorizes people into 16 different personality types. This is based on their preferences in four areas. These areas are extroversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving.

While popular, the MBTI has faced criticism for its binary nature and lack of scientific validity. After interviewing psychologists, Vox said it’s “totally meaningless”. Psycom undermined the test’s nature of being inconsistent, depending on when the survey taker takes it.

The Myers & Briggs Foundation says the MBTI tests are reliable tools for understanding yourself, growing, and feeling fulfilled. Don’t compromise your growth!”.

The Big 5 personality traits

This model describes personality along five dimensions: openness to experience, reliability, extraversion, cooperativeness, and emotional stability.

The Big Five personality traits are a reliable framework for predicting job performance and relationships, backed by science. They are widely respected for their accuracy.

NPR criticized the “Big 5” test for being inconsistent. They noted that the test sometimes gave different results when taken by the same person twice.

StrengthsFinder

StrengthsFinder identifies an individual’s top strengths among 34 themes, focusing on areas of natural talent and ability.

It is commonly used for personal development and building teams. However, its ability to predict job success or future outcomes is not as reliable as other assessments.

Color personality test

The Color Personality Test categorizes individuals into different personality types based on color preferences or associations. For example, red may represent assertiveness, blue may symbolize calmness, and yellow may signify optimism.

The Color Personality Test is simple to complete. Research shows this test may not be as good at predicting behavior and personality traits as other tests.

DISC assessment:

The DISC assessment categorizes individuals into four main personality types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It focuses on behavior and communication styles in different situations.

Widely used in organizational settings, the DISC assessment is valued for its practical applications in team dynamics, leadership development, and communication strategies. However, its reliability in predicting long-term behavior and performance outcomes may vary.

In summary, personality quizzes have limits, but understanding test-taking factors can reduce errors and give more accurate results.

Can I create a personality quiz?

Short answer – Yes!

Choose a topic for your personality test, research it, and use Formaloo to create your test and gain insights easily. You can start from scratch, or use one of our personality test templates.

You can also check out our YouTube for detailed step-by-step tutorials.

So, sign up for free on Formaloo and start creating personality quizzes today.