Psychometrics at Work
What Are Psychometrics?
Psychometrics is a term used to describe psychometric tools that help us to measure psychological factors.
Psycho + Metrics = Psychological + Measurement
Psychometric tools help psychologists to understand and measure an individuals’ psychological factors like intellect, personality, motivation, attitudes and values. They are based upon a series of statements, designed by a specialist psychologist, that are then considered and responded to by an individual. The responses to the statements are analysed and related to real world behaviours and performance.
At work, psychometric tools help organisations to better assess, understand and develop people.
Psychometric tools are used by 97% of the Fortune 500.
Psychometrics at Work Research Group (PAW)
With the rapid development of technology and processing power, a new breed of psychometric tools can be designed to tackle specific business needs.
To create a world-leading force in this area, the Psychometrics at Work Research Group (PAW) has been formed.
Led by Dr Paul Irwing and Dr Mark Batey, Psychometrics at Work has ambitions to be the world’s premier institute for the study, research and development of modern psychometric tools.
Some of the PAW research programmes currently ongoing include:
- Creativity: assessment, development and its relationship to personality, intelligence and motivation
- Financial risk
- Predicting business success
- The structure of personality
- Personality adaptability
- Integrative models of personality, intelligence, motivation and values
- Sex differences
Researchers at the Psychometrics at Work Research Group have created a wide number of psychometric tools for use in business. These fit into 2 categories:
Development tools:
This is the heartland of traditional psychometric tools; long and detailed questions developed using paper-based technology. Recent advances in research and processing power have allowed the development of new psychometric tools that can allow reliable profiles and training aids for very narrow personality factors.
Dr Batey developed the me² model with 12 individual difference factors, organised into 4 primary dimensions and yielding the world’s first General Factor of Creativity. The model has been developed into a powerful commercial online psychometric tool by E-METRIXX to assess and develop creativity. me² is now a comprehensive diagnostic training and development tool to help individuals, at every level, understand the psychology behind their capacity to solve problems and exploit opportunities – this is what psychologists call ‘creativity.’
Filters:
Filters are new mass-market psychometric tools that allow businesses and organisations to filter large volumes of recruitment applications where personality is crucial for performance. Areas that would typically benefit include: call centres, business students, drivers, hospitality workers, retail staff, event teams and security guards.
These roles all have different personality requirements and getting a better fit between a job and a candidate works best for everyone.
If you are interested in…
- Access to free trials of psychometric tools before they are commercially made available
- Access to the PAW team to answer technical questions & queries about psychometrics tools
- Or for any other enquiry, please contact us at PAW@mbs.ac.uk