The Disadvantages of Psychometric Testing

Disadvantages of Psychometric Testing

The following are significant dangers associated with psychometric

testing

* Dispite what has been said in previous sections, there are

numerous tests and questionnaires on the market which purport to

be 'psychometric instruments' but which are not. Unfortunately, it

is very difficult for untrained people to distinguish these from

good psychometric instruments. In many cases, these tests and

questionnaires have been put together by people with no background

in psychometrics and they have very little actual utility and

value for the purposes for which they are marketed.

* Lack of correct training is also a significant danger in the use

of psychometric testing. Although there exists in the UK a

training qualification system developed by the British

Psychological Society, it is not uncommon for tests to be used by

people who are not adequately trained to use them. Indeed, even

attendance at a recognised training course is no guarantee that a

person will at all times use tests and questionnaires correctly

since some instruments, particularly personality questionnaires,

require considerable experience and the possibility of

misinterpretation or inappropriate interpretation of results is

ever-present.

* Another important danger with psychometric testing is the use of

personality questionnaires to try to assess a person's ability or

skill in a particular area. For example, if a person scores highly

on a person...