Over the years, various scientists and researchers have come up with measurement instruments. The aim of such scientists was to come up with tests that could be used to evaluate the quality or status of various human aspects such as intelligence, achievement, personal preferences, personality etc. This paper seeks to discuss various aspects of two measuring instruments i.e. the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the Myers Briggs Personality Test.
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
The Scholastic Assessment Test(SAT) is a form of aptitude test. It was first introduced in 1926. The test is published by a nonprofit organization in USA known as the College Board. At first, the test was owned and published by an organization known as the Educational Testing Service before the College Board took over its ownership. The form of SAT test used in current times was adopted in the year 2005. It consists a test that lasts for three hours and forty five minutes.
SAT is usually done by students in high schools. Its main purpose is to measure an individual’s level of literacy and prowess in writing. To achieve this the objective of evaluating levels of literacy and writing skills the test is made up of mathematics, critical reading and writing sections.
Although the SAT is a widely known test, it has recently faced some criticisms in the recent past. For example, there have been claims that its questions have some aspect of cultural bias. It has also been claimed that wealthy students were more likely to pass the test and that it was a major cause of stress for students. All the above criticisms have reduced reliability of the test by colleges and universities although the test is widely known to be valid.
Currently, the test is still administered by the Educational Testing Service. The reason behind my choice of selecting the SAT as a measuring instrument is based on qualitative data. The existing data on SAT tests suggests that it is a widely used technique by a large number of colleges and universities to measure an individual’s aptitude ability.
Myers Briggs Test
The Myers Briggs test is a measuring instrument used to evaluate an individual’s personality. In a bid to be more specific, the kind of personality test administered to individuals is known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The test was first administered during the year 1943. Its main purpose is to provide a standard system for evaluating and understanding an individual’s personality.
It is important to note that the test follows the theory of psychological types that was developed by Carl G Jung. As stated earlier, the MBTI is a model test that is used to understand an individual’s personality and behavior. It must, therefore, be understood that the MBTI is not an appropriate measure that can be used by employers or other recruitment personnel to evaluate the level of intelligence, maturity, mental stability, competence or emotional state of an individual. Therefore, it is recommended that the MBTI, should not be solely relied upon when recruiting individuals although it is widely considered as a valid test all over the world.
Since the MBTI is a test that is used to measure the personality of individuals it is used to collect qualitative data. The MBTI test should only be administered by individuals who belong to authorized institutions such as the Association for Psychological Type. The reason behind my choice of this measuring instrument is the fact the ability to evaluate the personality of individuals is an important aspect required by various sectors of our society.
References:
Cherry, K. (2012, June 13). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Retrieved from About.com: http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologicaltesting/a/myers-briggs-type-indicator.htm
Long, L. J. (2011, July 20). SAT: The Validity and Reliability and it’s Effect on Cultural and Racial Minorities. Retrieved from Justanotherwordpress.com: http://psychsocialissues.com/2011/07/20/sat-the-validity-and-reliability-and-its-effect-on-cultural-and-racial-minorities/
SAT pressroom. (2012, october 23). About SATs. Retrieved from Collegeboard.org: http://press.collegeboard.org/sat/faq
