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Is Personality Test a Reliable Tool for Online Dating?

1/14/2004

The online dating industry is experiencing a new wave of growth, offering various personality assessment tests. However, the reliability of many online matching tests is less than 50%.

The online dating industry, fueled by a consumer demand for better quality matching, is experiencing a new wave of growth offering various personality assessment tests and quizzes. However, have you ever questioned the reliability of these tests? Let's look at the grandmother of all personality tests the MBTIŽ (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). The published test-retest reliability of MBTIŽ is 0.75 (only 3 out of every 4 tests are reliable). Since matching involves tests from two people the retest reliability here is a multiple of individual test reliabilities 0.75 * 0.75 = 0.56 or 56%. The reliability of MBTIŽ is based on a guided execution of the test, which includes a 400-page manual and requires a certified professional to administer the test. The reliability of online self-assessment would be even lower than 0.75, leaving online dating users a less than 50% chance of finding that perfect match.

A number of online dating sites already offer various online psychological personality tests. Many of them are based on MBTIŽ or a similar technique. However, only a few published their reliability data for tests conducted in clinical conditions and under guidance of professional psychologists but not self-administered online. When people are confronted with an online self-assessment questionnaire, the answers are affected by many external factors such as context, attitude, feelings and mood. The re-test reliability of a self-assessment questionnaire is low, meaning that the same question can be answered differently at a later retest. I believe a reliable psychological assessment can be conducted in clinical conditions, but clearly the Internet-based psychological self evaluation is far from being accurate.

How can somebody call himself a student of human behavior without at least studying astrology? They [psychologists] can't fix a broken heart. [Nobel Laureate, Dr. Kary B. Mullis, Dancing Naked in the Mind Field, 1998, ISBN: 0679774009].

The MBTIŽ is based on archetypes invented by Swiss psychologist Carl G. Jung. He also used astrology in his research, creating and studying birth charts of his patients. The four archetypes used in the test are just a simplified classification of personalities which could be extracted from a birth chart. Jung admitted: Astrology is in the process of becoming a science. [C.G. Jung, Synchronicity, 1951, ISBN: 0691017948 1973] and was not ready at that time to publish it as a scientific tool, partly because of complexities involved in calculating a birth charts. However, in his astrological research using birth charts of 483 married couples he did point out that there was a statistically significant presence of the aspects traditionally considered indicative of a satisfactory relationship.

Since the invention of computers, the tedious job of calculating a birth chart is greatly simplified. Also, recent growth of the Internet allowed a greater ability to collect and analyze astrological data. For example, Compatti.com's empirical data analysis of relationship compatibility results used over 150,000 unique pairs of nearly 30,000 users. It proved that nature has created a symmetrical balance of more and less compatible pairs.

The test-retest reliability of Compatti.com's compatibility assessment tool, which is based on biorhythms and astrology, is nearly 100%. It includes 3 simple questions: your date, place and time of birth. Since the 1960s, many states in the US, and even earlier in some European countries, were recording birth times, making accurate astrological personality assessment accessible for the majority of people today.

The other characteristic of personality assessment is its validity - how well the test measures what it claims to measure. Since these tests are all about your personality then nobody else but you would know how valid the test is after taking it. I recommend the simple and most convincing validation technique which was described by the Nobel Laureate, Dr. Kary B. Mullis. He tested an astrological personality assessment on himself and concluded: A horoscope that accurately reflects your personality can be cast by a computer if you give it the correct birth data. Indeed, if individual personality can be cast from date, time and place of birth, could this be also used for a reliable relationship compatibility test? You can answer this question by taking a compatibility test with your friends at www.Compatti.com

About Compatti.com
It was launched in 2000 after its creator Vladimir Savchenko found his own bride through astrological compatibility evaluation. He has since put his money where people's hearts are, unveiling www.Compatti.com, helping people find friends and partners and maintain their relationships with unique personality tests. Based on research in compatibility and relationships by world-renowned professional astrologers, Compatti.com appeals to people of all ages who strive to improve their relationships.