What you as a test responsible should pay special attention to!

Psychological biases and sociological factors can influence responses and lead to test results that reflect social ideals more than genuine motivation.

This presents a particular challenge when using tests in professional settings. That’s why it is essential for test responsible to understand and consider key factors to correctly interpret results and avoid misunderstandings.

→ Age, gender, education, and industry

Sociological and anthropological factors shape how we see the world and ourselves. These background factors should always be considered, as they can influence responses, motivation, and behavior, thereby affecting what to expect from test results.

→ Level of self-awareness

A limited level of self-awareness often shows up as uncertainty about one’s own identity. The person has limited access to their own motives and reaction patterns, which often leads them to identify with types that feel familiar and socially acceptable.

→ The ‘better-than-average’-effect

This effect describes the tendency to overestimate our abilities and believe we are above average in various areas – such as driving, leadership, empathy, and morality – often based on an idealised self-image.

→ Confirmation bias

This bias means we (unconsciously) seek to confirm the self-image we already hold – for example, as dutiful, conscientious, and responsible – while overlooking or downplaying information that contradicts that image.

→ Social desirability bias

This bias occurs when individuals respond based on what they think they should be in a given profession, rather than who they truly are. It is especially common in industries with strong norms regarding desirable behavior.

→ Face validity

Face validity – or “the recognition dilemma” – arises because test persons cannot always see how their answers influence the outcome. Our test is scientifically designed and deliberately masks direct correlations between answers and results to ensure reliability and prevent manipulation of responses.

As a result, test results may initially feel less recognisable or satisfying, even though the test is scientifically sound.

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