The MBTI should never be used to gauge aptitude, performance, or self-worth. I Can Use the MBTI for Talent Acquisition, Right? These preferences are the basis for how we communicate, how we are perceived by others, and how we are motivated. Once we understand our type, we can then understand why/how we instinctively do four basic things: direct/receive energy, take in information, make decisions, and orient ourselves to our environment (act on decisions) (Myers, 1998 McCaulley, 2000). Type is determined at birth and does not change over the lifetime traits fluctuate depending on scenarios, age, gender, etc. Personality type is like the foundation of a house – it is the most basal level. This is only partially correct personality traits are continuous, while personality type is, in fact, categorical. Personality Isn’t Categorical, It’s Continuous! For example, if I answer questions based on what I think my boss wants me to do, I am not answering true to myself, and therefore I receive a skewed result. This phase ensures that results are not skewed due to wrong mindset (remember bullet 3 above?). Second, the purpose of the certified practitioner is to guide the participant through the self-scoring phase. This means that if a fake, free version of the test is created, it uses different questions that are not psychometrically tested for reliability and validity, thus causing incorrect results. Studies show that the MBTI is both reliable and valid (Edwards et al, 2010 Thompson & Borrello, 1986 Capraro & Capraro, 2002). The questions on psychological assessments are psychometrically tested for reliability and validity. You’re telling me that these things matter? Yes! They can all alter the results received from the assessment.

The participant did not answer the questions from the correct mindset.

The participant did not receive an interpretation session from a certified practitioner.

The participant did not use the official version of the test.Here are the most common reasons why type changes: How Can the MBTI be Reliable? My Type Changed! Let’s take a few minutes and break down the most common arguments against the MBTI, then look at scientific, peer-reviewed studies that contradict those claims. The assessment is misused and misquoted on a regular basis. Many love to hate the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI), claiming it is not psychometrically valid or reliable, while others purport that the results are meaningless because they are not based on continuous variables.

Reliability and validity of mbti