PSY 100 Fall 2023 Lab #3 Personality

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1. How do psychologists define personality? What is the purpose of measuring personality?

Personality is defined as stable characteristics of thinking ,feeling, behaving .These characteristics are
consistent and stable across all situations. They don’t change day to day. The purpose of measuring
personality is to have a deeper understanding of individual characteristics which helps in psychological
assessment and self development and self awareness. Measuring personality helps psychologists to
evaluate peoples mental health and diagnose psychological disorders

2. What does reliability mean in the context of psychological measurement?

Reliability mean consistency and stability across measurements

3. What is test-retest reliability?

Consistency when a test is taken again at multiple time points

4. Given the purpose of measuring personality, would you want a personality measure to have
high or low test-retest reliability? Explain why reliability is important to the measurement of
personality.

I would want a high test-retest reliability when measuring personality because it captures individuals
enduring personality .Reliability is important to the measurement of personality because it enhances the
usefulness of personality results in researches and clinics . These assessments can be used for self-
awareness and personal growth. Reliable personal assessment helps doctors to create appropriate
treatment plans for patients with mental health issues

5. In class, we completed the Keirsey Temperament sorter, a version of the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator. We completed two halves of the test at separate time points. How many people’s
personality types stayed constant, and how many people’s personality types changed?

No Change Change
3 13

6. In our classroom, what is the percent agreement in the MBTI types between the two time
points? In other words, out of our total sample, what percentage had the same personality type
across both time points?
18.75%
PSY 100 Fall 2023 Lab #3 Personality

7. What does this tell us about the reliability of this version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
personality test?
This tells us that this version of the Myers-Briggs personality test is not reliable. Personality is assumed
to be stable and consistent across all situations.