An examination of the relationship between personality dimensions and preference for a delivered or interactive test feedback style.

Abstract

This study examined client perceptions of a personality test feedback session. Participants (n = 82) took a well-known normal personality test and had their results interpreted for them in either a delivered or interactive test feedback style. An interactive style of feedback involved significant client participation, while a delivered style of feedback involved minimal client participation. Based on the results of the personality test, participants were labeled as either introverted or extraverted. Results of the study revealed no differences between the delivered and interactive conditions in perception of counselor, perception of session impact, or overall satisfaction. Further, results revealed that participant personality style (introverted or extraverted) did not mediate preferences for test feedback style. Analyses revealed that extraverts rated their level of comfort with their level of involvement in the feedback session higher than did introverts. However, this difference in comfort level did not translate into differences in ratings of counselor, session impact, or overall satisfaction. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.