Why the 16pf Instrument?
The technical credibility of the 16pf tool was a big selling point in this academic environment. IWU Professor Dr. Keith Puffer explains, “The psychometrics of the 16pf measure were alluring, along with the way the tool is constructed, which makes it very helpful for research analyses.” Robust and reliable computer-generated reports support the technical standing of the questionnaire by presenting the results in an accessible way for students.
“The psychometrics of the 16pf measure were alluring, along with the way the tool is constructed, which makes it very helpful for research analyses.”
Dr. Keith Puffer
Professor, Indiana Wesleyan University
Using the 16pfQ throughout the Academic Cycle
The 16pf instrument is ideally suited to the university’s purposes. Completion of the 16pf Questionnaire is part of the curriculum for three psychology courses at IWU. To maximize the value of the 16pf information, students receive a 16pf report in each course, and review the report with a staff member who is credentialed in the interpretation of the 16pf Questionnaire.
The questionnaire is first used as part of the General Psychology course during the freshman year, as it addresses several of the core psychological concepts being studied in this first-year course. For example, areas such as stress, interpersonal habits and career success are explored – all of which can be measured using the 16pf assessment.
The sophomore class, Life-Calling and Career Counseling, expands on this learning and applies each student’s personality insights to their own development in a very personal way. The 16pf Career Development Report is used in this course to look at how an individual solves problems, deals with stress, and interacts with colleagues, listing a series of general and specific career environments that would be suitable for the student. During the second year, students use this report to begin career planning.
Following this, students at the junior level study the 16pf Questionnaire as part of their Psychology and Personality course, where they research the author of the 16pf test, influential academic Dr. Raymond Cattell. Cattell was the first to come up with a five-factor model of personality, which is still the prevalent theory by which psychologists understand personality. In this course, students also write a brief description of their personality traits as a way to process some of the results from their 16pf Career Development Report.