Commonality of Response to Personality Tests

Abstract

Ss from a Quaker secondary school ( N = 121), a high prestige liberal art college ( N = 32), and a nursing school ( N = 70) were given five personality tests, and their responses examined whenever any one group agreed 80% or more. High commonality was found, and the values of the groups were inferred from their responses. Common values pose a problem for the assessment of the individual, since his responses to tests may reflect over-all cultural values rather than his unique opinions.