Did you know that around 75% of Fortune 500 companies use psychometric tests?
The term psychometric assessment might sound daunting! But it simply refers to tests centered around psychology.
These tests measure an individual’s abilities, skills, and personality traits. In the business world, these tools are commonly used in human resources.
There is a wide variety of psychometric assessment tools out there. So how do you know which ones to use? Keep reading, and we will dive into these assessments, what they’re used for, and their benefits.
What Are psychometric assessments?
Psychometric assessments are tools used to measure cognitive abilities and personality traits. These assessments can identify candidates likely to be successful in a given role. They can also assess an individual’s fit for a particular job.
These assessments are often administered as part of the hiring process. However, they can also get used for development and promotion purposes too.
For example, employers can use them for team members up for leadership positions. This will help identify employees with the necessary skills and personality traits for the role.
Common psychometric assessments include Cognitive ability tests, Personality tests, strengths profile, and Interest inventories.
The Strengthscope® model comprises 24 strengths which are the most closely related to performance at work, based on research into behaviour, preference, personality and motivation.
Cognitive ability tests
These tests measure an individual’s ability to do the following:
- Solve problems
- Remember information
- Learn new tasks
They are often used to identify candidates who have the potential to succeed in roles that require strong analytical skills.
Personality tests
These tests measure an individual’s personality traits, such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extroversion. They can identify personality traits that can help candidates succeed.
Interest inventories
These tests measure an individual’s interests and preferences. This can help to identify careers or jobs that may be a good fit. They can also get used to assess someone’s fit for a particular job or role within an organization.
How do psychometric assessments help human resources?
Psychometric assessments are a valuable tool for human resources departments. When used effectively, they can help create a more efficient and effective workforce.
In addition, they can help with the following:
- Identify potential candidates for positions within the company
- Assess an individual’s suitability for a specific role
- Provide insight into an employee’s strengths
- Create development plans
- Identify training and coaching needs
The different types of assessment tools
Psychometric assessments can get divided into two broad categories: ability tests, and personality tests.
Ability tests
Ability tests measure the ability to perform a specific set of tasks. Personality tests evaluate an individual’s characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviour patterns.
Within the category of ability tests, there are three main types of assessments:
- Aptitude tests – predict an individual’s future performance in a particular domain.
- Achievement tests – measure an individual’s current level of proficiency in a specific field.
- Intelligence quotient (IQ) tests – measure an individual’s intellectual abilities and potential.
Personality tests
These can be further divided into two categories:
- Projective personality measures
- Objective personality measures
Projective measures rely on an individual’s interpretation of ambiguous stimuli. For example, using inkblots or pictures to assess personality.
Objective measures use standardized questions to assess personality. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most used objective personality measure.
Strengths are used to define character strengths to differentiate from technical strengths. In examining these various definitions, we were able to see a potential place for a definition of strengths as relating to aspects of personality which are energising to the individual and which lead to high performance.
Some of the benefits of using psychometric assessments
Increased objectivity
These assessments can help reduce subjectivity when measuring psychological abilities and personality traits. This can be especially helpful in cases where individuals might be biased. It can also be beneficial when there needs to be more clarity about a specific ability or trait.
Greater accuracy
Psychometric assessments can give a more accurate picture than other methods. This is because these assessments get designed to measure these constructs specifically. In addition, they often use multiple measures to increase reliability and validity.
Increased fairness
These tests are objective and accurate. Due to that, they can help to increase the fairness of selection and promotion decisions. This is especially important when personal biases might influence these decisions.
Useful for development
These tools can also be helpful for development purposes. For example, individuals can learn about their strengths and weaknesses. This can get used to help them identify areas where they need to focus their development efforts.
Psychometric assessments may also provide employees insight into how they compare to others in terms of ability. This is helpful for people trying to improve performance or trying to reach a certain level.
Strengthscope® is also very consistent in measuring each strength, so you can be sure that the profile reported accurately describes the person completing the questionnaire.
Limitations of psychometric assessments
One of the main limitations is that these assessments are only sometimes accurate. This is because they rely on self-reported data. This data can be affected by factors such as social desirability bias. For example, when someone wants to appear more optimistic than they are.
In addition, cultural factors can influence psychometric assessments – for example, language barriers or different understandings of what certain questions mean.
Approved by the experts
Strengthscope is the only strengths assessment of its kind in the world today that has achieved British Psychological Society-registered status. This means it has achieved the global gold standard for test construction, as it’s been proven accurate with participants around the world.
Strengthscope’s measures are free from gender, age, and ethnic origin biases.
How to use psychometric assessments effectively
Psychometric assessments are an essential tool for human resources professionals. However, you need to know how to use them effectively.
Use them as part of a holistic assessment process
It is important to remember that these tests should only be one part of your HR strategy. They are best used in collaboration with other avenues within your strategy.
Combine them with other methods like interviews, reference checks, and work sample tests. This will give you a more rounded picture of a candidate and help you to make better hiring decisions.
Choose the right type of assessment
There are many different types of psychometric assessments available. It’s essential to choose an appropriate assessment for the position you’re filling and the skills you’re looking for.
Be clear about what you’re assessing
When administering a psychometric assessment, be clear about what you’re trying to measure. This will help you choose the correct assessment. In addition, it will help ensure that the results are interpreted correctly.
Administer the assessment fairly and consistently
It’s important to administer psychometric assessments fairly and consistently. By doing this, you ensure that the results are meaningful and accurate.
Interpret the results carefully
The results of psychometric assessments should be interpreted carefully by qualified professionals. The results alone should not determine the final hiring decision. Instead, they should be one factor in your decision.
The best psychometric assessment tool for you
There are many psychometric assessment tools available that can help Human Resources professionals. The information provided by these assessments can help make more informed decisions.
For our clients, creating inspired, empowered individuals at their organisation starts with our Strengthscope® report. It provides a unique insight into what energises and motivates their people to perform at their best.
Strengthscope® standard is the heart of our products. Designed to help people identify what makes them truly unique, enabling honest and authentic conversations.
It empowers them to develop and stretch their strengths, as well as productively overcome blockers to their performance.
Book a conversation today to learn more about how we can help you build a more engaged, positive workforce by implementing Strengthscope at your organisation.
