The Implications of Using “Free” Questionnaires
Co-authors: Mette Babitzkow Boje, Thor Ødegård, Yngve Ødegård, Rikard Larsson, Katarina Kling, John Ogink & Remco Nijboer
Co-authors: Mette Babitzkow Boje, Thor Ødegård, Yngve Ødegård, Rikard Larsson, Katarina Kling, John Ogink & Remco Nijboer
By Mette Babitzkow Boje, 2024
Let us look at the Jungian Type questionnaires, there are quite a lot. A quick search on the internet gives you least 10 different free questionnaires on the first page. The temptation is great; why pay for something you can get for free?
However, the implication of using free questionnaires is profound. Free versions are typically created without the rigorous statistical analysis necessary to ensure accuracy. This lack of verification means users can't be certain that the results are reliable. The absence of such analysis may lead to inaccuracies, potentially resulting in misinterpretations and misleading conclusions.
On the other hand, a reliable and valid questionnaire, such as the Jungian Type index (JTI), undergoes thorough testing and validation. For example, Ringstad and Ødegård worked with typology for over 10 years when they made 120 questions (items) for the JTI, but they were aware that it was not their own competence that determined which questions (Items) could predict the correct preference. It was the respondents, those who answered the JTI, and the statistical analyses of the respondents' answers that determined which questions could be used. In the JTI case, there were 56 questions (items) that sharply distinguished between the 8 preferences, using analyses such as Cronbach's alpha. When utilizing such a well-tested instrument, you can be confident in the accuracy and reliability of the results.
The next level of quality assurance involves letting a reputable organization, such as Veritas (a Norwegian quality assurance company), conduct analyses. They use the European Psychological Association's criteria to ensure that the type test is precise in its predictions. In Norway, JTI is the only type instrument with this approval.
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When C.G. Jung (1921) published his theory of psychological types, we got a model that deals with psychological characteristics, specifically personality traits in the form of psychological preferences. In Jung's original theory, we find three dimensions of personality, namely the energy dimension with the preferences extraversion-introversion, and the dimensions related to preferences for mental functions sensing-intuition and thinking-feeling. Later, a fourth dimension emerged, known as the lifestyle dimension, with the preferences judging-perceiving.
Each dimension should be understood as an either-or with mutually exclusive preferences. In other words, if you are extroverted, you cannot simultaneously be introverted; if you prefer sensing, you cannot possibly be intuitive at the same time, and so on. When you complete the questionnaire, you receive a type code, such as ESFJ or INTJ, based on your preferences.
JTI is a Scandinavian-developed tool introduced to the Danish market in 2003. JTI is a type tool designed to identify C.G. Jung's eight preferences.
A reliable and valid tool is only the beginning. We also need to use the tool correctly. A tool is only as good as the person using it, meaning that the questionnaire itself is not enough to give a precise, in-depth knowledge of type.
For example, you can have a fantastic car with 5 gears, but if you only use first or second gear, the car will not perform as expected. The poor performance is not caused by the car but by the driver!
Therefore, you need guidance from a person who has attended an authorization seminar after you have filled out a Type questionnaire. The authorization seminar provides participants with in-depth knowledge of type dynamics. Type dynamics is a deeper understanding of how oneself and others use their preferences, and what can happen in the interaction between different typologies.
Without this knowledge, you usually only scratch the surface, learning only your preferences. You will probably focus on your behavior rather than your preference. There is no deeper understanding of how the preferences interact or of one's dominant function, auxiliary function, 3rd function, and inferior function, and the consequences this may have. All topics which a professional user of the JTI will help you understand and relate to.
When choosing a tool to use in your consultancy, ask yourself, what kind of professionalism do you want to sell? By utilizing a quality-assured product, you demonstrate your commitment to delivering the best service possible. In the event a client complains about the quality of your work with typology, having followed the rigorous standards of a quality-assured product will give you a solid defense.
For those in the consultancy business, it's imperative to recognize that the use of typology is not just about identifying personal preferences; it's about delving deep into the dynamics of those preferences, understanding how they function within oneself and others, and using this knowledge to provide the best possible service. Opting for quality-assured products and professional development will set you apart in the consultancy world.
In conclusion, two questions come to mind:
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