Objective Versus Projective Personality Test
intellectual abilities and is commonly used in the employment sector to ascertain whether a prospective employee will be a good fit into the company. Usually several different tests are
given and a trained, qualified psychologist can assess the results. They are also administered
Objective Testing
Objective tests are given to an individual that helps to work out the person’s
characteristics that would be independent of any bias. The questions are directed at who the
person is and what he knows rather than what the person believes in such as religion, morals
and ethics.
Projective Testing
A psychologist would use this to get a better understanding of an individual’s
personality traits. They may have hidden emotions or internal conflicts. The best example of
this type of testing is the famous Rorschach inkblot test. Objective testing is considered more
reliable as the questioning is based on an accepted standard within psychological testing.
Projective and Subjective testing is open to interpretation of the psychologist and may be
considered an ‘educated opinion’.
When to Use Them
Projective testing is suitable for use in criminal cases where the mind-set and thought
patterns of a perpetrator may need to be determined in a particular court case. These tests can
be requested by the judge or the defense. Projective testing is also used in the case of
mentally ill patients, suicidal individuals and to gauge the effects of trauma. Projective testing
can also be used as a secondary gauge to determine the psychological fit of a new employee
that is applying for a middle or senior management position. An objective test is also given in
these instances. Objective testing might be a good way to test the knowledge of an individual.
Multiple choice questions and true-false type questions can be administered and in which
there is a correct answer. Therefore, a school test will determine whether a person is
knowledgeable in a particular topic. Psychologists and psychiatrists spend more of their time
trying to understand what makes a person tick. So they might initially give an Objective test
disorders, so the Projective test might be considered far more important, albeit less reliable.
