Posted by K.B. on February 06, 2001 at 07:32:44:
In Reply to: Re: This is more like IT posted by Mikko on February 06, 2001 at 05:26:44:
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> > One side has it that the Enneagram doesn't fit everyone or that people are too complex to fit into one of nine types. The other side says that you can't label each personality to the degree I suggest. Why shouldn't we attempt to try? Let's take two 4w5's; one has a test score that goes 4-8-7-5-6-3-1-2-9 and the other is 4-9-5-1-6-2-8-7-3.
> I agree with you on that there's more to personality than just the type and the wing. But how consistent and reliable would the test results be in the first place? According to the background information, the full RHETI test tells the strongest type with a 75 to 80 percent accuracy and you can be 90% sure to have the correct one within the top three. The more elusive influences would probably be even more difficult to estimate correctly.
> Ah. Now that's a good point, Mikko. For you see that 1. Many questions aren't fair to what the types are about. I don't have the RHETI questions at hand, but let me give you some examples of what I mean. There seem to be too many money and material status {fashion for example} questions involving 3; I would score low on these but 3 should cover anything having to do with impressing others for the sake of "looking good in society's eyes". Thus how about some questions like "I work out at a gym and while I do I fantasize about the impressions I will create and the envy others will have". {As opposed to working out for type 1-to get healthier type 9-the peaceful feeling of body/mind co-ordination type 5-to think clearer, etc}. Or "I would like to be seen by my peers with a gorgeous member of the opposite sex".
Its not only 3 that is weakened or strengthened by slanted questioning, but I used it as an example.
If these questions had a broader scope we could nearly perfect Enneagram but only if:
2. 144 questions each question tests two types, which brings it I think to 32 questions per type. As a political buff I know that you can't go into an area and survey only 32 people and hope to get an accurate percentage of say how many in district 1 for Bush and how many for Gore, how many for Buchanan and how many for Nader. The truth is that an accurate survey that asks accurate questions will give you an accurate percentage, but in the case of political polling- you've got to survey at least 500 people. In the case of Enneagram it may be more like 60 or 70 accurate questions for each type which would mean a longer test and a more encompassing one, but its worth it if you want an accurate Enneagram and not the rudimentary one we have now.
No, the more elusive influences {as you put this} would not be difficult to correctly estimate. They are the less "popular" components in a person; the elements less likely utilized in thought, action, belief. And there are reasons why. The whole test result tells a complete story or would if certain things were changed, but it still is a pretty accurate barometer as it is. Reading an entire test result from high to lowest is somewhat like reading a book on a person and each score interacts with the others. K.B.