I’d like an honest and critical look at what we get out of personality tests. I’ve taken Strengths Quest twice, and had similar (but not identical) results. As someone with “Ideation, Learner and Strategic” strengths, I may have done a fair bit more research and introspection on my own learning style and motivational framework. I like the idea that it would help students, but I mistrust anything sold as a “silver bullet” (or panacea). I remember teachers I respected back in the early 00’s who advocated for the Myers Briggs for ESL students, but it didn’t sound any better than what I already did. Scott Adams addresses this today in Dilbert.
We encourage Students to take the Strengths Quest. Have do I address the following questions:
- If the test reveals truth about someone who takes it – how can that data be misused?
- What about the Harvard Business Review’s claim that Strengths-based coaching can actually hurt you?
in the interest of full(?) disclosure
