Abstract
Researcher was introduced to the Keirsey instrument during 1996 and has since
done evaluation and training of numerous people.
The Keirsey instrument is a well-known self-assessment tool in America to help
people understand themselves and those around them better – hence the name of
the books “Please Understand Me” and “Please Understand Me II”
For many years, it was accepted that all psychometric measuring had to be done by
psychometrists and that Social Workers were not qualified to do any testing.
In 1995, “a new concept “ecometrics” was defined and contextualized ….. The
concept is of particular value in social work theory and practice …….. Ecometrics
should be developed as a sub-discipline in social work …….” (Van Zyl 1995:30)
The Main goal of this study is to do a critical evaluation of the Keirsey instrument of
assessment from an ecometric perspective for use in South Africa.
The objectives of the study would then be
• To evaluate the Keirsey instrument in terms of the social work literature.
• To explore the user value of the Keirsey instrument by means of the inputs of
other frequent users.
• To evaluate the Keirsey instrument against the most important ecometric
development methodology.
It is proposed to evaluate not only the original English Questionnaire, but also
researchers’ own Afrikaans translation of the questionnaire.
“That people are highly formed at birth, with fundamentally different temperaments or
predispositions to act in certain ways, is a very old idea. Hippocrates first proposed
it in outline around 370B.C., and Plato was more interested in the individual’s
contribution to the social order than in underlying temperaments. Sigmund Freud
claimed that we are all driven from within by instinctual lust and was followed by
many others……. Then, in 1920, a Swiss physician named Carl Jung
disagreed………… He claimed that people have a multitude of instincts, what he
called ‘archetypes’ ……. and presented what he termed the ‘functional types’ or
‘psychological types’” (Keirsey 1998:2-3) It is important to note that social workers
are familiar with the concept of ‘social functioning’ and researcher would like to
address this aspect as part of the problem formulation.
“It is the social context that determines which kind of personality will be more
effective,” says Keirsey. (Keirsey 1998:3). This is exactly what researcher will be
trying to establish in this study – the social context that influences the way a person
react to certain incidents or issues.
According to Faul and Hudson, “social work is a unique profession that operates
within a specific value base. It is also a profession that is mainly involved with the
enhancement of social functioning and the importance of the adaptation of the
individual in his environment. Because of this, scale development in social work
form part of certain unique processes that must be followed to distinguish them from
other professions. (Faul & Hudson 1999:8).
It would thus be important to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Keirsey
instrument (although the original developer is of the opinion that it is a nearly
impossible task to validate any questionnaire) for use as an ecometric–scale by the
social work-profession in South Africa.
If ecometry is the methodology of measurement of all aspects of social work, and
focuses on the manner in which people adapt in their environments as Van Zyl
claims (Van Zyl 1995:30), then it seems appropriate to help all individuals to function
as effective as possible – taking their character and temperament into consideration
– within their own frame of reference. The client can be empowered to understand
his- or herself better and thus taking responsibility for his or her own functioning by
enhancing their self-esteem.
Faul and Hudson state that “ecometrics does not seek to diagnose or classify, but to
measure social functioning, with the emphasis on behavioural strengths and positive
coping skills” (Faul & Hudson 1999:21). The objective of this research project would
be to try to argument that by using the Keirsey instrument, clients can be helped to
overcome their own feelings of helplessness and lack of self-confidence that often lie
at the root of their dysfunctional behaviour within their social context.
It is also important to note in this regard, that Fauls’ study has been established as
an accepted methodology in the field of ecometrics – a methodology that would be
used in this research project.
The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) also realised
the need for social workers to be empowered to assess clients’ functioning in their
ecological context, and started a process for the accreditation of social work
assessment instruments early in 2001. The SACSSP currently have a subcommittee
to evaluate and accredit ecometric scales for use by social workers.
Mouton and Marais defines a research design as “an exposition or plan of how the
researcher decided to execute the formulated research problem. The objective of
the research design is to plan, structure and execute the project concerned in such a
way that the validity of the findings are maximized.” (Mouton & Marais 1996:193)
According to De Vos et al, the developmental research and utilization model (also
described as intervention research) can be used very effectively in the South African
context. (De Vos et al 1998:384). This study will utilise the developmental research
design as an existing tool will be evaluated for use in an ecometric context by social
workers. Instead of “re-inventing the wheel”, knowledge acquired by Jung, Myers,
Briggs, Keirsey and Bates amongst others, can be utilized to empower qualified
social workers, in an ecometric context.
Dr. Wim Roestenburg