Validity and Reliability of the Myers Briggs Test Term Paper

Validity and Reliability of the Myers Briggs Test - Term Paper Example The history of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator holds accountable Carl Jung and his personality theory as the primary basis and the chief influence of Katharine C. Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers in the development of the MBTI, a project that lasted for two decades and a half (Bayne, 1997; Morgan & Morgan, 2007; Quenk, 2009).   Jung published his book â€Å"Psychological Types† in the early 1920’s which was later on translated in English and published in America.   Briggs at that time was also developing her own theory of personality types which she later on abandoned upon discovery of Jung’s theory which resembled her ideas but had better structure and form.   It then started the long journey of Briggs and Myers that concluded with the creation of the MBTI.   Guided by Jung’s theory, their observations of individuals led them to the conclusion that â€Å"typology could provide a useful way of describing healthy personality differences and importantly, that such assessment could be put to practical use in people’s lives† (Morgan & Morgan, 2007, p. 336). Such non-judgmental and realistic underpinnings of the instrument are perhaps the reasons for its massive influence and application. It is interesting to note that none of them have studied and trained under Jungian psychoanalysis yet they accepted his ideas and studied it enthusiastically for 25 years. To begin with, both were not psychologists and do not have a strong foundation in statistics.   In the 1940’s, psychological testing was a very young field and inventory type questionnaires were not popular.   While psychology often measures characteristic, Myers and Briggs were more drawn towards preferences which identify the dominant functions of individuals.   At that time, they did not have the convenience of computers making item analysis, so they relied heavily on friends who they classified as â€Å"thinking† and â€Å"feel ing† individuals.