MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It Is Reliable
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Patrick addressed that the criticism that the MBTI tool isn’t reliable all tracks back to one article published in 1993, before the current form was even published. Data show that test-retest reliability for the MBTI tool is actually very good. When people get a different result on the assessment from one time to the next, it is usually because they reported “slight” the first time. With a result of “slight,” you could have answered just a few questions differently and reported toward the opposite preference. However, looking at that psychometrically, usually that’s just a few points difference, which is actually very good reliability.
One critic of the assessment claimed that he took it one time and reported INTJ, and then took it again and reported ESFP (the exact opposite type). Our data show that this only happens when a person is not taking the assessment seriously or is purposely trying to get opposite results. The MBTI tool is not meant to trick you. But if you know enough about the theory, you know what the questions are getting at. That is one reason why we don’t suggest taking it over and over again.
If you want to delve deeper, look at something called internal consistency reliability. For the MBTI tool, these numbers are excellent with different age groups and ethnicities, and by gender. Click here to check out some interesting reliability and validity data.
Want to read more about the Users Conference? Check out my previous blogs in this series:
- MBTI® Users Conference—Type, Interpersonal Needs, and Stress: A FIRO-B® and MBTI® Workplace Culture Connection
- MBTI® Users Conference—“Culture Matters” Panel: Macro and Micro Perspectives
- MBTI® Users Conference—Networking and the Step II™ Receiving Facet Challenge
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It’s Not Meant to Be Predictive
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It Is Reliable
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / It Doesn’t Just Flatter You
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Where’s the Research?
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Clinical Psychology Criticism
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Ambiverts?
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Type Dynamics
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity / Proper Type Language
- MBTI® Users Conference—Creating a Culture of Clarity
- MBTI® Users Conference—Communication Breakthroughs: The Genesis for Better Understanding of Others
- MBTI® Users Conference—From Diversity to Inclusion to Engagement
- MBTI® Users Conference—The Art of Culture Hacking
- MBTI® Users Conference—A Step II™ Day
- MBTI® Users Conference—Culture Matters
- MBTI® Users Conference—What I'm Thankful For