Keirsey Temperament Sorter Research Articles

Personality Type and Leadership Approach

Effective leadership in public schools includes, but is not limited to being able to communicate goals, set expectations, monitor instructional progress, coordinate the curriculum, and supervise and evaluate faculty (Snowden & Gorton, 2002). All of these leadership skills are driven by a need for leaders to build collaborative rapport and create a positive learning environment for both teachers and students. This study looked at the relationship between personality type as measured by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (Keirsey & Bates, 1984) and leaders’ preferred leadership approaches as measured by the Instructional Leadership Beliefs Inventory (Glickman, 2002). Although this study found no significant correlations, the data provides insight to help determine how and to what extent personality type is related to a preferred leadership approach.

An Exploratory Examination of the Relationship between a Short Form of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and Success in an Introductory Accounting Course: A Research Note

This Research Note examines the relationship between specific questions in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality preferences test and performance in an entry level accounting course. It develops a structural equation model linking specific questions in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality preferences test to grades obtained by majors in business disciplines other than accounting enrolled in an introductory accounting course at one mid-sized, public university located in the USA. The results indicate that six (6) questions in the Keirsey Temperament Sorter may be associated with success in the introductory accounting course. Those teaching an introductory accounting course may elect to take a few minutes to administer these six questions at the beginning of their first class period. Students who, through their responses to these six questions, do not demonstrate a predisposition for accounting could then be counseled as to what steps they may need to take in to succeed in the course.

Church Tradition and Psychological Type Preferences among Anglicans in England

AbstractA sample of 290 individuals attending Evangelical Anglican churches and Anglo-Catholic churches in central England completed the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a measure of psychological type preferences. Overall, there were clear preferences for sensing over intuition, for feeling over thinking, and for judging over perceiving, which is consistent with the findings of two earlier studies profiling the psychological type of Anglican churchgoers. However, there was also a significantly higher proportion of intuitives among Anglo-Catholics than among Evangelical Anglicans, which is consistent with the greater emphasis in Anglo-Catholic churches on mystery, awe, and the centrality of sacraments in worship which may resonate with the intuitive predisposition. The implications of these findings are discussed for the benefits of breadth and diversity within Anglicanism.

The Relationship Between the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Short-Form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

The two models of personality proposed by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS) and by the short-form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-S) both propose measures of extraversion-introversion, but in other respects the two models are quite different. While the KTS proposes measures of sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving, the EPQR-S proposes measures of neuroticism, psychoticism, and a lie scale. In order to test the comparability of the two indices of extraversion-introversion and the independence of the other constructs, a sample of 554 undergraduate students attending a university-sector college in South Wales, in the United Kingdom, completed the KTS and the EPQR-S. The data demonstrate that the Keirsey Temperament Sorter scales map in quite a complex way onto the model of personality proposed by the EPQR-S.

Psychological type and prayer preferences: A study among Anglican clergy in the United Kingdom

This study applies the framework of Jungian psychological type theory to define eight aspects of prayer preference, namely: introverted prayer, extraverted prayer, sensing prayer, intuitive prayer, feeling prayer, thinking prayer, judging prayer, and perceiving prayer. On the basis of data provided by 1,476 newly ordained Anglican clergy from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, eight 7-item scales were developed to access these aspects of prayer preferences. Significant correlations were found between each prayer preference and the relevant aspect of psychological type accessed by the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. These data support the theory that psychological type influences the way in which people pray.

Psychological type and counselling psychology trainees’ choice of counselling orientation

Clarifying the factors which influence choice of counselling orientation is important. This study investigated whether psychological type is associated with choice of orientation in counselling psychology trainees. Sets of questionnaires were sent to 210 counselling psychology trainees in four universities, which resulted in a sample of 84 participants. The measures were the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II and a short demographic questionnaire which also asked open-ended questions about chosen orientation. Participants who preferred SJ (Sensing-Judging) were more likely to choose the CBT model, NFJ (Intuition-Feeling-Judging) types the Psychodynamic model and NFPs (Intuition-Feeling-Perceiving) the Person-Centred model.

Using personality type differences to form engineering design teams

This paper argues for the greater use of personality type instruments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II (KTS II), when forming engineering design teams. Considering the importance of teamwork in all aspects of education and industry, it is surprising that few universities in the UK use personality type information when forming design teams. This has led to many courses not getting the best out of their students, and more importantly the students not getting the most out of the teamworking experience. Various team formation methods are discussed and their relative strengths and weaknesses outlined. Normal personality type distributions in base populations are presented and compared with data from recent studies of engineering students, and the link between engineering, design and creativity is discussed. The results of this study have shown that the most important of the type preferences is the Sensing-iNtuitive (S-N) scale, with its proven link to creativity and learning styles. It is concluded that both engineers and designers have much in common, and a methodology of using personality type choice sets to select and form engineering design teams is proposed.

An Exploratory Study: Relationships Between Bloom's Taxonomy and Keirsey's Temperament Sorter

This study began with the idea that personality traits influence the correct response to certain categories of questions in exams, or Bloom's (1956) Taxonomy. The significant results of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) suggest that personality (Keirsey's Temperament Sorter, 1998) does impact correct responses on categories of Bloom's Taxonomy and on the style of questioning. Completing analysis on individual personality traits, the MANOVA suggest the Judgment/Perception personality trait influences the significant result more than the other two personality traits (Sensing/Intuition and Thinking/Feeling).

Learning styles and personality types of computer science students at a South African university

This research investigates the learning styles and personality types of Computer Science students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa using the Kolb Learning Style Inventory and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, respectively. Students were found to be predominantly abstract intheir learning, and they did not show strong preferences on the reflective/active dimension hence they had either a Converger or Assimilator learning style which is consistent with prior research. Across the three years of undergraduate study, learning styles became more balanced in terms of the reflective/activedimension. Students were predominantly ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ or ESFJ in their personality types showing a strong presence of the SJ temperament which is associated with organisation, planning and decision-making. This result is less consistent with prior research. There were no significant differences over the three years in personality type.

The Relationship of Psychological Type Preferences to Biblical Interpretation

This paper tests the theory that lay people prefer interpretations of the bible that match their psychological type preferences. A sample of 404 lay, adult Anglicans from 11 different churches read a healing story from Mark's gospel and then chose between interpretative statements designed to appeal to particular psychological type preferences. Psychological type preferences were assessed according Jung's typology using the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS). Participants preferred interpretations that matched their personality preferences in both the perceiving (sensing versus intuition) and judging (feeling versus thinking) processes. Theological content may also have influenced choice independently of psychological type preferences because those with conservative rather than liberal attitudes to the bible also preferred sensing over intuitive and feeling over thinking interpretations.

Students' Perceptions of Jesus' Personality as Assessed by Jungian-Type Inventories

The present study was the first phase of an exploration of college students' perceptions of the personality of Jesus Christ as assessed by two Jungian-type inventories, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Myers, 1998) and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II (Keirsey, 1998), which categorize personality along four dimensions: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judgment/Perception. Along with an overall exploration of students' perceptions, the present study focused on whether students were likely to make self-based attributions in their perceptions of Jesus' personality. Results indicated that students perceived Jesus to be an Extravert Feeler and made self-based attributions along the Sensing/Intuitive dimension, with 43% perceiving Him to be an Intuitive-Feeler and 37% perceiving Him to be a Sensing-Judger. Perceptions of Jesus as a Judger or Perceiver were divided, with those placing more importance on modeling Jesus more likely to see Him as a Judger, and those placing less importance on modeling Him perceiving Jesus as a Perceiver.

Teaching personal knowledge as a way of knowing self in therapeutic relationship

Personal knowledge is conceptualized as a fundamental pattern of knowing in nursing and a precondition for establishing therapeutic relationships. Personal knowledge is essential for learning the artful use of self in therapeutic relationship. However, personal knowledge is difficult to teach. This article demonstrates ways an undergraduate class project is used to teach personal knowledge. Results from the Keirsey Temperament Sorter are used to explore students' understandings of their temperament preferences and behaviors. Students' preferences in communication and interaction styles are compared with literature reports describing Generation Xers (birth year 1961-1981) and Millennials (born after 1981). Implications for teaching the youngest generation of students are addressed. It is proposed that teaching personal knowledge as a journey in knowing self in the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship helps students appreciate the power of therapeutic relationships to affect health. Students' knowledge about themselves, when taught with other patterns of knowing, demonstrates relationship-focused encounters, which is at the heart of therapeutic relationship.

Conducting web-based survey research: a lesson in internet designs.

To examine the tacit knowledge resulting from designing a complex Web site to facilitate administration of an Internet-based survey. Formative methods guided studying the feasibility of conducting an online survey using versions of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II and the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. Web-site design software and pilot testing were critical to success. Incorporating the target audience as consumers in both Web site development and formative evaluation simplified data collection and analysis. Online instrumentation used in survey research is both practical and desirable. Future refinements are necessary, but improved designs can emanate from this particular effort.

Utility of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter for Problem Identification and Treatment Planning in Correctional Institutions

Those in volved in Correctional Behavioral Rehabilitative programs are currently faced with the tasks of reducing costs and providing intervention programs of increasing quality, including detailed treatment planning. The present study discusses the use of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (Keirsey, 1998), an easily administered and scored, in expen sive, and quick test that does not require specialized education/experience to interpret. The four dimensions of personality derived from the work of Carl Jung that form the basis of the 16 Temperament Types described by the Keirsey are discussed. The present study provides an introduction to possible areas of focus for treatment interventions for incarcerated drug offenders for each of the 16 psychological types that can be used to form the basis of an individualized mental health treatment plan.

Using personality inventories to help form teams for software engineering class projects

As faculty create their teams for software engineering class projects various techniques may be used to create these teams. Random selection as well as structured assignments all have varied strengths and weaknesses. One method for selecting students involves using personality inventories to assess the various personality types of the students. This paper will discuss how the author used the Keirsey Temperament Sorter to select teams for a software engineering class and some of the results of this experiment.

Concurrent Validity of the Online Version of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II

The Keirsey Temperament Sorter II (KTS-II) is a popular online assessment instrument available to those engaging in career exploration on the Internet. The KTS-II yields measures of psychological type, which can be used to identify work environments congruent with one's personality. There is little information available to support the validity of the KTS-II. Concurrent measures of the KTS-II and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator were attained for 203 first- semester college freshmen without declared academic majors. There were strong positive correlations between the concurrent MBTI and KTS-II measures of psychological type. The relevance of these findings for career counselors' use of this online assessment is discussed.

Satisfaction of college students with the digital learning environment: Do learners' temperaments make a difference?

Undergraduate students enrolled in courses that incorporate Web-based modules were surveyed to assess their satisfaction with learning in a digital instructional environment, with the goal of identifying learners' temperaments as possible predictors of satisfaction. Temperament classifications were guardian, artisan, idealist, and rational and were determined through the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II (KTSII). Satisfaction was measured on a 16-item satisfaction scale. The research sample was comprised of 145 male and female volunteer participants from a variety of academic majors at a large southeastern university. Considered important from the research findings is the absence of temperament as a predictor of satisfaction, with the view that students considering enrolling in courses that incorporate digital learning, but who may be reluctant to register because of perceived mismatches between personal traits and the digital environment, should be reassured that the environment is not restrictive in terms of temperament.

Attitude Toward Christianity and Psychological Type: A Survey Among Religious Studies Students

A sample of 367 students studying religion at A-level completed the Keirsey Temperament Sorter together with the Francis Scale of Attitude Toward Christianity. The data demonstrated that sensing types hold a more positive attitude toward Christianity than intuitive types and that judging types hold a more positive attitude toward Christianity than perceiving types. No significant differences in attitude toward Christianity were found either between extroverts and introverts, or between thinking types and feeling types.

Paranormal Belief, Experience, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter

121 college students completed the Anomalous Experience Inventory and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Multiple regression analyses provided significant models predicting both Paranormal Experience and Belief; the main predictors were the other subscales of the Anomalous Experience Inventory with the Keirsey variables playing only a minor role.

Personality Type and Attitude toward Christianity among Student Churchgoers

A sample of 82 student churchgoers completed the Keirsey Temperament Sorter together with the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity. The data demonstrate that feeling types hold a more positive attitude toward Christianity than thinking types.