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Leaders in psychometric assessment for career and education choice
Here are some questions that are commonly asked by our advisers and practitioners. Please click on the question that you would like to see the answer to.
If your question isn't here, feel free to ask us!
It is possible to prepare or revise for knowledge based tests. However many tests are designed so that particular problems have to be solved from scratch, maybe by analysing sequences of words or numbers or by assessing information presented in a more complicated way, for example in the form of a piece of prose or a series of charts and diagrams. In cases like these practice will not, unfortunately, turn you into a numerical genius, but it will make you more confident when you are presented with the real thing.
Many bookshops stock books containing practice material and it is also possible to access example tests through the internet.
There are some differences between the performance of men and women.
On average, men do better at the mechanical ability test and women with the speed and accuracy (awareness) and manual speed tests.
There is some evidence to suggest that test performance decreases with age.
In Morrisby terms, the tests that seem to be the most affected are the Compound Series (solving problems from first principles), Perceptual (diagrammatic reasoning), Shapes (moving two-dimensional shapes in three-dimensional space), Speed & Accuracy and Manual Speed. In addition flexibility seems to decline.
People go into jobs for all sorts of different reasons, and background, opportunity and luck can play a big part. However, that being said, we have conducted surveys that suggest that 70-80% of school students go into courses that are linked to our career suggestions.
When tests are used in selection procedures they are used to measure attributes which are important in the performance of a particular job. These are typically abilities or aspects of personality which have been found to distinguish between those who do the job well and those who perform less well. Results can then be used to match applicants to the 'ideal' profile for a job or to discover if certain minimum requirements are met.
There are currently about 550 jobs in the database, these cover both general (e.g. bank work) and specific (e.g. accountant) occupations.
There are obviously more than 550 jobs in the world but we cover all the key areas. Interestingly, a database only needs to include 300 jobs to cover 90% of all possible occupations!
No, the order is not important. The 12 job suggestions in the report fit the results in various different ways. The twelfth suggestion is as good as the first.
The tests are based on extensive research into abilities, personality and interests and have been developed over 30 years.
The Morrisby Profile which was designed specifically for use in the UK was launched in 1991/92. Over the last few years it has undergone a number of refinements; the associated guidance reports are revised each year.
We regularly update our job information using the same sources as careers advisers. In addition, we make sure that the qualifications we suggest are up-to-date and add any other details we feel would be useful. For example, we provide the Connexions Resources Centre Index (CRCI) code which is a quick way of finding books on particular careers.
Tests are widely used for careers guidance in schools and colleges and by local careers services. Additionally in the UK about 75% of medium to large sized organisations use them as part of their selection procedure alongside interviews or other face-to-face assessment techniques.
Individual tests are timed so that we can see how a client performs compared to someone else who completes the tests under the same conditions.
The tests are designed to assess all the main aptitudes, work-based personality and occupational interests. This amounts to 12 different tests and an interests questionnaire so it's not surprising that it takes just over 3 hours to complete.
If a person has taken some exams and they know the results, it provides extra information that can be used to help focus our job suggestions. When we don't have the information we have to predict how a client might do from the tests results.
For help, contact customer service at support@morrisby.com. Please include as many details of your problem as possible in your email.
We will respond to your email within 2 business days, unless it is a weekend or public holiday. Alternatively you can call the support number on 01442 215521 during normal office hours.
The Morrisby Profile is a full psychometric test. To be registered it requires ongoing extensive reliability and validity studies to prove that it measures what it says it measures and that it measures it accurately. The results of these studies are included within the test manuals.
There are two main types of reports: normative and ipsative.
The normative report is the standard student or adult report with results scaled against the general population. In addition some careers companies have slight variations in content, depending on requirements.
Ipsative reports (individual results compared to clients own level of performance) can be produced on request if an adviser feels that a standard normative report would be de-motivating.
Yes, if interests have changed significantly it is possible to produce a new version of the report that takes this into account.
Within the terms of the Data Protection Act, we keep extensive records and so it is more than likely - however if it is more than 5 years ago it might take some time to locate the data.
No, stick to the timings in the administration instructions. Remember that the tests have been standardised.
This rule may be amended if your client is disabled. Refer to the Disabled Candidates page in the Pre Test section for guidance on this topic.
The reports are all generated in terms of the general populations. We can score test papers to product profile charts using different norms if you wish.
The Morrisby Profile and a version of the 'Adult' report have been used with Y.O's since the early nineties. A number of probation services also use the system.
You can access reports online at www.morrisby.com using your unique password, contact: info@morrisby.com and we will provide you with one. Access to this site is limited to those who are trained to use the Morrisby Profile.
You can view all the Groups you have access to. Within these groups you can see a list of each candidate's name, email address, if the user has previously logged in, report code (printed on the front page of their Morrisby Guidance Report), Date of birth, and links to Interview notes, Planner, Report and Careers Adviser Notes. Reports can be downloaded to be saved or printed if desired.
Not overtly as the Morrisby Profile does not measure skills. However these may be important points to consider at the feedback interview.
There are some tests which are available without special training. However most ability and personality measures require users to be trained to British Psychological Society Level-A/B standard or its equivalent.
There is additional training required if you want to use the Morrisby Profile.
Minority groups produce comparable results, compared to the majority, for all the ability tests. The only differences are with Speed Test-4 (outward confidence), but this is not at a significant level; and Speed Test-5, manual speed. Ethnic minority groups perform at a significantly higher level on this test.
Overall it is very unlikely that any ethnic candidate would suffer adverse impact from the use of the Morrisby tests.
If this is mentioned in the biographical part of the interests questionnaire, and particular tests do appear to have been affected, we will put a note in the report.
Visually error is represented by the chisel shaped end of a results bar. If you wish to know more about the relationship between standard error and interpretation see your test manual for details.
For independent practitioners if you tell us in advance what you require, we can usually return reports in one or two days from receipt of the answer papers. We recommend that you always call to make sure your deadline can be met.
For careers organisations testing adults our standard return time is 5 working days, for schools and other organisations who test students it is 10 working days.
The reports are also available online, once we receive your test materials we can put the report online the same day.
If you need to, you can re-test a client after four weeks or so have elapsed from the first session.
You might want to do this if you (or the client) believe that there were circumstances surrounding the first test session that prevented the client doing their best.
Face the client and speak clearly. You may also need to arrange for a signal so that the client knows when to stop.
We have produced for the Morrisby Profile an Administration Guide for the Hard of Hearing. This comprises a simple, A5 size desktop flip chart that if suitable or appropriate, the candidate can use in addition to the test administrator's usual activities.
In certain situations it may be necessary to have the administration instructions conveyed in sign language. If appropriate, prior to the test session, you should also have ensured that the client was aware that they would need their hearing aid.
In those cases where question books and answer sheets in a larger print would help we can supply special materials. However we must know in advance of your requirements. You should also check, as appropriate, that clients know they have to bring their reading glasses with them.
Sometimes clients are wary of a long test session because they think that they will not be able to concentrate for long enough. The Morrisby Profile is composed of 12 tests, rather than one long test lasting 3 hours, and it is unusual for attention to be an issue.
However, there are certain medical conditions that do make it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time. If this is the case check with us first!
If you are testing a group of clients and one is distracting the others in a significant way, you must issue a warning. If the behaviour continues it may be necessary to ask the person to leave the test room.
Prior to the session, find out how they feel about doing the tests. Consider the possibility of a 'scribe' to help with the ability tests.
Refer to the Disabled Candidates page in Pre Test items of the Corporate Support area.
Nothing much you can do once a test has begun. Just make a note on the test log and we will place a comment in the report if it appears to have distorted the results.
Calm him or her down as best you can and make a note in the test log. Do not be tempted to provide extra time or to provide answering strategies for any of the tests.
None of the tests assess memory or require the use of significant short term memory during completion. If, for medical reasons, a client has severe short term memory problems, this sort of test is inappropriate.
Retain the bit that you have and track down the missing element. Experience shows that quite often the missing item has been put into a Question Book used during the test session.
Only return complete sets of materials for processing!
Make a note in the test log and we will make the necessary corrections.
Carry on with the rest of the tests and do not attempt to insert the missing test later on in the session. Make a note in the test log and we will take the appropriate action.
Make a note in the test log and your own notes for the feedback interview. This is an aspect of test taking strategy (despite the instruction to work as quickly as possible) that will need to be discussed.
Sometimes clients produce extremely high scores that appear to go off the end of the scale. In reality these results are in the top 1% and the bar represents the estimate of the scale score above 20.
It may well influence their performance and in extreme circumstances the test session will need to be abandoned. Otherwise, make a note in your test log and indicate which tests were most affected.
Depends on the length of the break. If you feel that it will severely disrupt the results it is better to re-run the session at a later date.
The reading age is set at 9.5 years.
These may be prompted by comments on the test log or questionnaire, for example concerning administration 'problems' or learning difficulties; or if the result for a particular test (or tests) is unusual compared to the other results.
This test measures perseveration but clients find the results easier to understand if they are expressed in terms of degrees of flexibility. To do this the score is subtracted from 20 and scaled against Speed Test-1.
Yes, the MP is only available in English at present.
We contact all our advisers to inform them about any major developments. If you would like to keep up to date of MP developments please send your contact details to info@morrisby.com
There is no VAT to pay on chargeable test materials such as question books and manuals. VAT is payable on reports and non-paper-based products.
You can pay by cheque or by major credit/charge cards. All payment must be received in sterling. Please call accounts on 01442 215521 to make a payment.
If the order is received before 2pm the items will be despatched that day (depending on stock). They should arrive within 1-2 days.
For deliveries less than 2kg we use Royal Mail. For deliveries over 2kg we will use one of our couriers. Urgent deliveries (for example to ensure delivery at a certain time) can usually be provided, but must be requested with, or preferably in advance of the order. Please note that urgent deliveries will incur an additional charge.
Normal delivery in the mainland UK is delivered free of charge to the customer and usually takes 1/2 working days. If you require your order urgently this will incur an additional charge. Overseas orders will incur a shipment charge - please call Customer Services on +44 (0)1442 215521 for a quote or email info@morrisby.com.
The Morrisby Profile can be used with all ages upwards from about 14/15+. We don’t recommend that this is used with younger people as abilities and personality are not yet fully formed.
To find out about our prices please call 01442 215521