It’s perhaps quite natural to believe that the Chinese personality is so different to others that it requires a special psychometric test to assess it. What better way to sell your new Chinese personality test than to state that it is “high time a test for the Chinese” were developed. However, this throws doubt upon the utility of rigorously developed international psychometric tests of personality.

Given the above, we embarked on a research program to assess whether Chinese people differ significantly comparied to others in terms of personality structure and whether personality tests that purport to assess Chinese Personality are able to predict any more work performance than internationally developed tests have already been proven to do!

You can read our research findings it: personality.cn, our Chinese Personality at Work Research Site.

No time to read the whole site? Here’s a quick summary:

Locally developed psychometric tests which purport to assess “indigenous” aspects of Chinese Personality were found to be less reliable than reputable internationally developed tests of personality. Furthermore, there is a big question as to whether so-called “indigenous” traits are Chinese-specific. Issues such as traditionalism or face also exist in other cultures! Moreover, the research has demonstrated that whatever we choose to believe about Chinese Personality, locally developed (Hong Kong) tests of “indigenous” personality add nothing to the prediction of performance at work that is not already accounted for by reputable internationally developed personality tests.

We present this research in a free HRM webinar which you can watch here. We held a vote at the beginning and end of our webinar whereby we asked attendees if they believed that Chinese Personality is so different that Chinese people need their own personality test. At the beginning of the webinar, the majority of the attendees said yes! By the end of the webinar only one attendee still believed this to be the case! We recommend choosing well designed psychometric tests with high reliability and validity. Personality is a universal construct, thus locally developed tests may have little benefit to the hiring manager!

FREE HRM WEBINAR

PsyAsia International is pleased to announce the next webinar in our series of professional HR webinars. This time we will be discussing the topic of Chinese Personality and performance at work.

Some HR people in Asia believe that culture plays such a significant role in personality that indigenous personality attributes need to be assessed at recruitment/selection. To this end, personality tests have been developed “in Chinese for the Chinese by the Chinese”. A significant question to ask is: Do these tests add any prediction over and above that afforded by mainstream personality tests developed by world renowned experts in the field?

The above questions will be answered through discussion of the trait model of personality and its biological basis. Peer-reviewed and published research conducted by PsyAsia International’s award-winning Psychologist, Dr. Graham Tyler; award-winning Dr. Peter Newcombe of the University of Queensland; and world-renowned Professor Paul Barrett, formerly of the University of Auckland will be presented in an easy to understand format.

Click to register…

PsyAsia International offers Free Psychometric Testing Course in Hong Kong & Singapore

Introduction to Psychometric Testing Course: Hong Kong, 4 May 2010; Singapore, 11 May 2010

PsyAsia International is Asia’s independent Leader in Psychometric Test products and Training. We choose to distribute only the world’s best, most validated psychometric assessments and offer locally relevant, world-class training in psychometrics. The Introduction to Psychometrics Workshop expands on PsyAsia’s expertise in Psychometric Training in Asia by offering a course geared to those with very little experience or understanding in Psychometrics. Many first time clients don’t understand why they need to be careful in their choice or use of psychometrics and many do not understand why training is a necessity in competent test use.

This one-day course aims to provide experienced-based training in an accessible and economical way. The course is easy to understand and yet covers many of the important issues to be aware of when choosing and using psychometric tests. Given our passion for Asia and our passion for the competent use of psychometric tests in Asia, PsyAsia makes no profit on this course. We charge delegates a small fee that reflects the cost of the hotel venue (including buffet lunch and refreshments) where the training is held as well as materials that we provide to the delegates. What’s more, if you later decide to attend one of our accreditation courses in Psychometrics, we will issue you with a discount code that reduces your course fee by the amount you paid for this course!

The history of psychometric testing Comparison of psychometric tests with other modes of employee testing and assessment The benefit of using psychometric tests in recruitment/selection, development and coaching Reliability in psychometric testing Validity in psychometric testing Error in psychometric testing Review of different aptitude, personality and values tests on the market Questions to ask your test publisher or distributor What next?Note: During the workshop, delegates will create quasi-psychometric tests in groups to enable a hands-on exploration of issues such as reliability, error and validity in psychometric tests.

To view full course details and to register, please click here.

Identity Psychometric Personality Questionnaire Webinar

-Overview of the Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
-Scales of Identity
-Derived Psychological Models
-Identity Reports
-Identity Online
-Benefits of Identity
-Applications of Identity
-Comparison with other leading questionnaires
-Identity Accreditation

Click here to register

PsyAsia International is pleased to advise that we have published the dates for our final series of webinars in 2009. Webinars are free and open to all non-competitors involved in Human Resource Management, Coaching and/or related fields. These following provides information on the webinars:

4 November: Saville Consulting Wave
You will see an overview of the Wave alongside research that shows the Wave beats other tests on the market in predicting performance at work and leadership. You will also have an opportunity to trial the Wave.

• Overview of the Saville Consulting Wave
• Aptitude Assessments and Personality Assessments
• Brief overview of the various assessments
• Scales of the Saville Consulting Wave
• Features of the Saville Consulting Wave
• Benefits of the Saville Consulting Wave
• Saville Consulting Wave Accreditation (Conversion and Full Module)
• Comparison with other personality assessments

-To register, please click here.
-Then choose “Show all meetings” and click register next to your preferred webinar
-Complete and submit the short registration form
-We will review your registration and send you a link to attend the webinar within a few days
-Kindly note that we take a maximum of 25 attendees at the webinar, so early registration is advised

18 November: Utilizing Competency Profiling to Improve Recruitment and Selection
This webinar will introduce attendees to competencies and how to conduct competency profiling, along with research on the effectiveness of the procedure and outcomes.

• Explaining Competencies
• What is Competency Profiling?
• Why use Competency Profiling?
• Process of Identifying Competencies
• Methods of Identifying Competencies
• Process of Utilizing Competencies for Selection
• How does it help in Recruitment and Selection?
• Research on the effectiveness of Competency Profiling in Recruitment and Selection
• Other areas of Utility for Competency Profiling

-To register, please click here.
-Then choose “Show all meetings” and click register next to your preferred webinar
-Complete and submit the short registration form
-We will review your registration and send you a link to attend the webinar within a few days
-Kindly note that we take a maximum of 25 attendees at the webinar, so early registration is advised

10 December: Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
Attendees will be introduced to this personality assessment which produces the most comprehensive assessment of personality on the market. You will also have an opportunity to trial Identity.

• Overview of the Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
• Scales of the Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
• Range of Application for the Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
• Advantages of the Identity Self Perception Questionnaire
• Identity Self Perception Questionnaire Accreditation Course
• Relative Comparison with other Questionnaires

-To register, please click here.
-Then choose “Show all meetings” and click register next to your preferred webinar
-Complete and submit the short registration form
-We will review your registration and send you a link to attend the webinar within a few days
-Kindly note that we take a maximum of 25 attendees at the webinar, so early registration is advised

Webinars run during the China, Singapore, Hong Kong lunch hour – that is, 12.30pm to 1.30pm.