Guide: Which personality test should I choose?

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of personality tests and typology tools available? You’re not alone. Here, we present a straightforward and accessible guide to the leading tests on the Danish market, accompanied by a comparison to help you understand what each tool offers.

When choosing a personality assessment tool, it is crucial to distinguish between trait-based tests and type-based tests. These tests represent two distinct approaches to evaluating your personality and behaviour, differing in their question frameworks and the insights they provide.

Trait-based tests: Painting a picture of your personality

Trait-based tests focus on identifying and assessing the extent of specific traits or behavioural characteristics in an individual. These tests typically evaluate a wide range of specific traits, such as extraversion, conscientiousness, or openness to experience. Trait-based tests often employ a Likert scale, allowing you to score higher or lower on each trait. This provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of your personality.

Examples of trait-based tests: 16PF, NEO-PI-3, and Hogan Personality Inventory.

Type-based tests: Revealing your preferences and supporting teamwork

Type-based tests are designed to identify broad personality categories or types. These tools categorise individuals based on overarching preferences or behavioural patterns. For instance, a type-based tool can indicate whether you primarily lean towards introversion or extraversion, intuition or sensing. Type-based tools help enhance understanding of your preferences and personality, making them particularly valuable for employee, team, or leadership development.

Examples of type-based tests: MBTI, JTI, Insights, and 16Personalities.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most widely used personality tool globally and has been applied for over 70 years in both individual development as well as team and leadership development. The tool is founded on psychologist Carl Gustav Jung’s theory of psychological types. The model comprises 16 distinct personality types, advancing your understanding of preferences and competencies within four principal areas:

Jungian Type Index (JTI)

The Jungian Type Index is a modified version of the MBTI, also grounded in the psychological preferences outlined in Carl Gustav Jung’s book Psychological Types. JTI was developed by Norwegian psychologists Thor Ødegård and Hallvard E. Ringstad and introduced in 2001.

16Personalities

16Personalities is a free online tool combining the typological understanding of preferences found in MBTI and Jung with the trait-based personality knowledge of the Five Factor Model.

Insights Discovery

Insights Discovery is a psychometric tool also based on Jungian typology. Unlike MBTI, JTI, and 16Personalities, Insights employs colours rather than letters. The colours Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue indicate which behaviours you are most likely to display and why. Insights was developed by Andi and Andy Lothian and introduced in 1993.

DISC

DISC is a personality profile model aiming to understand behavioural patterns in individuals. Developed by psychologist William Moulton Marston, it is rooted in theories of behaviour and communication. The DISC model classifies people according to four primary behavioural tendencies:

Dominance (D): Result-oriented, goal-focused, and decisive individuals – often direct, independent, and possessing strong leadership skills.

Influence (I): Extraverted, energetic, optimistic, and social individuals – skilled in communication, collaboration, and influencing others.

Steadiness (S): Stable, patient, and cooperative individuals who prioritise harmony, teamwork, and stability – often good listeners.

Conscientiousness (C): Precise, analytical, and detail-oriented individuals – thorough, orderly, and focused on quality and accuracy.

16PF (Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire)

The 16PF test was developed by the Anglo-American psychologist Raymond Cattell and identifies 16 core personality factors using factor analysis. This analysis involves comprehensive examinations of a wide array of personality traits to pinpoint the most central and independent factors describing a person’s personality. 16PF evaluates traits in areas such as social independence, sensitivity, dominance, and impulsivity.

Results from the 16PF test provide deep insights into your personality and behavioural traits and are commonly used in corporate recruitment processes.

Predictive Index (PI)

The Predictive Index is a test and methodology used to evaluate and predict behaviour and motivation in the workplace. Through a questionnaire, PI analyses your responses to generate a report offering insights into your behavioural preferences and working style. The PI tool is utilised in recruitment, organisational development, and management decision-making to align people with roles suited to their natural inclinations and to enhance team dynamics and communication within organisations.

Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO)

FIRO, developed by American psychologist William Schutz, is a psychometric tool stemming in part from observational studies of crews on American submarines – situations where well-functioning teams, capable of expressing and addressing relational needs, are essential for minimising conflict.

FIRO evaluates three fundamental needs in relation to others: How much do you want to be involved, or how much do you involve others? How much do you want others to exert control, or do you yourself express control? How much closeness do you seek from others, or to what degree do you offer closeness yourself?

Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI)

Hogan Personality Inventory focuses on assessing personality traits and characteristics within a professional context. HPI explores your cognitive, interpersonal, and motivational traits, as well as your risk behaviours and leadership style.