Psychological Testing in the Workplace

Psychological Testing in the Workplace

Introduction

Psychological testing or Psychological assessment is the base for the better comprehension of person and behavior by the psychologist. It is the process used for problem solving by professionals, to better understand the person's core competency, problems related to mental health, IQ and personality traits of individuals. It is the process that underlines the strengths and weakness in an individual.

Psychological testing has found important value in the selection and retention of employees in organizations. Psychological test used for the measuring of the traits and characteristics of the employees and potential candidates. These tests used for the measuring of the characteristics, capabilities and qualities required by the organization for a specific job. These are not only utilized for the employee selection; however, this test is also used for the employee retention by evaluation of t heir performance and abilities (Spector, 2008).

Discussion

Types of Psychological Testing

Psychological test includes standardized set of questions or problems that help in assisting to assess the characteristics and traits of individuals. The typical assessment by the test includes the assessment of knowledge, abilities, interest, capabilities, personality types and skills. They have easy application, swift completion and are designed to assess differing characteristics in a single test. Many private and public organizations have tests on websites, which makes the application easier for the organization.

Personality Test

Personality tests are designed to assist the professional to better understand the personality of an individual. Personality is a multifaceted combination of factors that breed and molds person's character influenced by the environment and the individual exposed to in childhood. There are multiple of factors that influence the person and develop special characteristic and traits in every individual which can be environment, genetic, social, economic factors, resulting in every person having different mental filters.

Personality test analyzes intrinsic tendencies and inclination to behave in analogous ways in differing circumstances. The test predicts certain personality types that are important and essential for the certain job type and organization. These tests can provide profusion information on a trait or complete personality profile of an individual. Moreover, personality test examines the Big Five personality, which includes extroversion, agreeableness, emotional stability, conscientiousness and openness to experience (Spector, 2008).

Understanding the trait and personality type of individual is very essential and is beneficial for the hiring an appropriate candidate and allocation of the designation and job type to the employee. For example, if the vacancy is for the sales personal with the constant communication with people, for this job type a person who is extrovert can be beneficial since a person can easily communicate and mold people in purchasing the product. They other job of the forest ranger, require the candidate who is emotionally stable and have openness to experiences can perform better to those having other personality traits.

Emotional Intelligence Test

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to evaluate, perceive and control of emotions. Emotional intelligence is the developed emotional states which is not a personality trait nor is it a cognitive ability. A developed emotional intelligence ...