Scoring of NPA personality test

NPA personality test

Personality Typing Based on Mendelian Genetics

© A.M. Benis, Sc.D., M.D..

Scoring of test by computer

Evaluation of any kind of test is rarely straightforward, as one must consider two separate aspects of testing that are somewhat antagonistic to each other: the sensitivity and specificity of the test. Sensitivity is a measure of the frequency of false negatives, while specificity is a measure of false positives. (For example, if you are an N type and the test states that you are not, that is a false negative. If the test says that you are an N type but you are not, that is a false positive). Our test is geared to trying for the best possible sensitivity for the most frequent character types, while trying to keep the number of false positives to a reasonable level. In the bar graph showing your probable character type you may see a single type that is highly probable, but there may be relatively high scores for one or two of the other types as well.

The test was scored by the averaging of several different statistical methods,

employing "square scores," a technique similar to Chi square comparisons, variance, and correlation coefficients (see "sheet 2" of the NPA test). For example, a "square score" for a given NPA type was determined from the differences of the subject's responses from the "expected values" for that type. The "square scores" for each type were then transformed to relative probability values with the use of the reciprocal function. The effect of the squaring technique was to amplify responses concordant with the most probable NPA type. The probabilities of NPA character type and of the three traits are displayed on the bar graphs. The relative probability of each NPA type was taken to be the ratio of the absolute probability for that type to the sum of the absolute probabilities for all six NPA types. The relative probabilities may be thought of as generating a subpopulation of individuals (say 1000) in which the frequency of the occurrence of a particular NPA type is proportional to its calculated relative probability. The probability of each of the traits (N, P and A) was then taken as the ratio of the number of individuals in the subpopulation having that trait to the total number of individuals.

The S-score was calculated from questions emphasizing submissiveness, social anxiety and depression. The S-score was determined as the square score for the S category* divided by the maximum possible square score times 100. Four categories of S-score are considered: (1) less than 20 (dominant types), (2) between 20-30 (transition range), (3) between 30-60 (moderately elevated), (4) greater than 60 (high).

The temperament T-score was calculated from questions that emphasized dominant behavior in N, NA, NPA and A character types: individuals who answer the selected questions will tend to score higher on the T scale. The S and T scores are mathematically independent, the two scores being calculated from separate subsets of the entire list of questions.

The focus F-score was calculated from questions that emphasized behavior in the NP and PA character types. The basis of the F score was a set of questions separate from those used in the computation of the S and T scores.

The bar graph giving the probabilities of the three NPA traits is most applicable to the six dominant types. If the S score is high (>20) then the first chart (estimate of the probability of traits N, P and A) is not theoretically accurate, since the traits N and/or A may have been suppressed by genetic or environmental factors.

Values of probability generated by the statistical techniques are inherently dependent on (1) the particular questions selected, and (2) the varied ways that the questions will be interpreted and responded to by various subjects. Hence, the probability values finally produced are relative ones only. The values are relevant only to this particular test, and they do not have any other significance in a quantitative sense.

_______________________________

* The contribution of each question to the "square score" is the square of the subject's response (0 to 4).

NPA test

Analysis

Scoring




					NPA personality test Personality Typing Based on Mendelian Genetics © A.M. Benis, Sc.D., M.D.. Scoring of test by computer Evaluation of any kind of test is rarely straightforward, as one must consider two separate aspects of testing that are somewhat antagonistic to each other: the sensitivity and specificity of the test. Sensitivity is a measure of the frequency of false negatives, while specificity is a measure of false positives. (For example, if you are an N type and the test states that you are not, that is a false negative. If the test says that you are an N type but you are not, that is a false positive). Our test is geared to trying for the best possible sensitivity for the most frequent character types, while trying to keep the number of false positives to a reasonable level. In the bar graph showing your probable character type you may see a single type that is highly probable, but there may be relatively high scores for one or two of the other types as well. The test was scored by the averaging of several different statistical methods, employing "square scores," a technique similar to Chi square comparisons, variance, and correlation coefficients (see "sheet 2" of the NPA test). For example, a "square score" for a given NPA type was determined from the differences of the subject's responses from the "expected values" for that type. The "square scores" for each type were then transformed to relative probability values with the use of the reciprocal function. The effect of the squaring technique was to amplify responses concordant with the most probable NPA type. The probabilities of NPA character type and of the three traits are displayed on the bar graphs. The relative probability of each NPA type was taken to be the ratio of the absolute probability for that type to the sum of the absolute probabilities for all six NPA types. The relative probabilities may be thought of as generating a subpopulation of individuals (say 1000) in which the frequency of the occurrence of a particular NPA type is proportional to its calculated relative probability. The probability of each of the traits (N, P and A) was then taken as the ratio of the number of individuals in the subpopulation having that trait to the total number of individuals. The S-score was calculated from questions emphasizing submissiveness, social anxiety and depression. The S-score was determined as the square score for the S category* divided by the maximum possible square score times 100. Four categories of S-score are considered: (1) less than 20 (dominant types), (2) between 20-30 (transition range), (3) between 30-60 (moderately elevated), (4) greater than 60 (high). The temperament T-score was calculated from questions that emphasized dominant behavior in N, NA, NPA and A character types: individuals who answer the selected questions will tend to score higher on the T scale. The S and T scores are mathematically independent, the two scores being calculated from separate subsets of the entire list of questions. The focus F-score was calculated from questions that emphasized behavior in the NP and PA character types. The basis of the F score was a set of questions separate from those used in the computation of the S and T scores. The bar graph giving the probabilities of the three NPA traits is most applicable to the six dominant types. If the S score is high (>20) then the first chart (estimate of the probability of traits N, P and A) is not theoretically accurate, since the traits N and/or A may have been suppressed by genetic or environmental factors. Values of probability generated by the statistical techniques are inherently dependent on (1) the particular questions selected, and (2) the varied ways that the questions will be interpreted and responded to by various subjects. Hence, the probability values finally produced are relative ones only. The values are relevant only to this particular test, and they do not have any other significance in a quantitative sense. _______________________________ * The contribution of each question to the "square score" is the square of the subject's response (0 to 4).

	NPA test Analysis Scoring