Responsibilities of a Personality Test

Personality tests can be used for different reasons and by a number of diverse professionals who are seeking to understand personality traits in patients, job seekers and students. They can be used for program placement and dictate whether a person is the right fit for a job, or whether someone needs therapeutic intervention. Responsibilities of a personality test carry ethical and legal considerations that need to be taken seriously.

Reputable Test Source

• Ensure that the personality test comes from a trusted source. If the test is being used to make a hiring decision, it's vital that the test is adaptable to fit the company using it. Personality tests come in a wide variety of types and lengths, and not all of them are appropriate for what you are trying to accomplish. If it is the test itself that will determine whether to hire, which career path to take or what type of psychological care is needed, it is essential that the personality test being used is a reputable test with valid questions and measurable outcomes.

Know What You Are Doing

• Study the assessment process a number of times before you go live. The personality test scores should be meaningful, and well understood by you. The assessment will guide the tester in making important decisions about another person based on the results. Do not take this process lightly.

State and Federal Guidelines

• Be knowledgeable of state and federal guidelines for administering personality tests and maintaining records that contain them. Have each patient read and sign a Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form, which highlights patient rights in accordance with national law and the sharing of sensitive personal information. After the test taker has signed the form, give him a copy to keep for his records. Not only are you protecting test taker rights by keeping a signed HIPAA form in his records, but you are protecting your rights as a professional, and the rights of the agency that you represent.

Support and Clarification

• Ensure that each test taker understands what type of test she is taking and what the information will be used for. Let the test taker know that there is no right or wrong answer. Be prepared to clarify if questions are not readily understood by the test taker.

Score the Test

• Rate the personality test to arrive at an accurate conclusion. If there are questionable or contradictory results, have the patient retake the test if necessary and consult with another professional. It is more important to have an accurate test than one that was completed in a certain time frame. When it is time to discuss results, do it in an honest and upfront manner, which allows the test taker to actively give feedback.

A Word of Caution

• Do not let a personality test act as the final word in any decision-making process. It is only a tool that helps assess, rather than one with which to make totalitarian decisions.