Personality and Learning: Individual Preferences Affect Educational Choices

Personality and Learning are intimately related because our personality behaviors affect our interactions with others (such as teachers), our educational preferences, and our career choices. Psychologists struggle with defining the concept of personality on a universal basis because it can be broadly interpreted and is a complex aspect of human behavior and cognition. Many professionals agree that personality can only be defined contextually by means of the particular theory chosen to explain it.
young girl with personality

The Models of Personality

There are a variety of personality models available in psychology: the 4-color model, Rorschach inkblot models, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory model, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Model (which I don't classify as a personality test, see perceptual filters), and so on.

The model I have chosen to work with is based on the Enneagram system that involves nine fundamental personality structures and associated behaviors (see below).

Two Methods of Personality Assessment

There are two main categories of personality assessment depending on the chosen theoretical model: objective tests and projective tests. Objective personality tests involve short answer (typically multiple choice) questions provided to the person being assessed (the assessee). The scorer of the test has little input on the result because set procedures are used to identify the personality based on the answers provided.

Projective personality tests involve significant interpretation by the scorer made on the basis of the assessee's performance/behavior on a specific task, such as describing what they see in an inkblot. Based on the answers provided by the test-taker, the scorer decides what this means about the individual's personality.

Both tests have advantages and problems. Objective tests are good because the assumption is that nobody understands themselves better than themselves. These tests are easily analyzed for reliability and validity. The down side is that people can lie on such tests in order to achieve a particular result. Tests can be cleverly constructed to detect such falsification.

Projective tests are popular in psychology (particularly in clinical psychology) because the professionalism and knowledge of the observer is absolutely critical for interpreting test results. Unfortunately, and despite their popularity, such tests suffer from serious reliability and validity problems. Further, such tests are fraught with scoring bias issues in spite of standardization efforts.

I suggest that projective screening of objective tests results provides the best balance between the two methods of personality assessment. In this method, the assessee takes an objective personality test, and is scored procedurally as usual. The assessor reviews the test results and then conducts a contextually projective interview with the participant in order to confirm or clarify results of the test.

The test scorer's objective is to minimize test bias resulting from interpretive misunderstandings, halo effects and severity effects (the latter resulting from individuals looking upon themselves too kindly or too harshly). This enables the test taker to take advantage of the scorer's expertise while being largely responsible for answering the questions about his/her self and hence facilitating acceptance of the test and buy-in to the personality model.

The bottom line is that personality tests designed to help enhance learning should be useful to the test taker. That means the test taker finds the test actually does provide valid and useful information for personal development. Here, the test scorer is available to help interpret results and look for sources of error, and not the primary judgment on personality type.

Personality Assessment: The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator

The Enneagram based on Riso & Hudson

I recommend the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI) to assess personality for four reasons:

1) I am familiar with it as a tool and find the results personally meaningful and useful;

2) the underlying theoretical model is based on sound psychological principals;

3) It is a developmental tool in addition to being a personality measurement tool;

4) While it is relatively new to psychologists, scientific research efforts have been taken to scientifically validate the test, and results are favorable.

The Enneagram Institute provides a free RHETI test to assess personality and learning.

Click here for more information on the Enneagram Institute.

Click here to take the free RHETI sampler.

After you have taken the free RHETI test, contact me with your results if you have any questions. If you would are ready to consider a full learning solution evaluation based on the results of:

1) your learning style assessment;
2) your perceptual filter assessment;
3) your RHETI assessment;
4) your evaluation of career options;

then go ahead and proceed to the learning solution page of RLDE.

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