SELF DESCRIPTION TEST

In this test, the psychologist wants to know whether a candidate knows himself/herself well or not. He, therefore, asks him to write what he knows about himself. He has to write five paragraphs describing the following:-

-> Parent’s/Guardian Opinion,
-> Teacher’s/Immediate superior Opinion,
-> Friend’s/Colleague Opinion,
-> his own opinion about himself and qualities to improve in future.

Total time for the SD is 15 minutes. The followings point to be kept in mind —·

o    Think about yourself in an objective manner.
o    Consider your various achievements in academics, sports, and extra-curricular activities, social and other areas.

Remember to emphasise on such factors that provide an overview of your personality traits.

o    Consider your strength and weak points–not your likes and dislikes.
o    Be confident about quoting your strong points . Also, while quoting your weaknesses include some ideas or measures that you have taken to overcome and improve them.
o    While filling up PIQ (Which is another form of SD only) keep in mind that your performance, behaviour, activities should resemble what you have written.
o    So, write what you are and do accordingly.

This exercise is to be done using ‘I’ and mostly avoiding the extremes in mentioning qualities, to give negative to improve upon but not lack of OLQ’s, but only in the opinion of others. Need for OLQ’s is not to be mentioned anywhere. In case of one’s own opinion, one should just summarise OLQ. No mention of negatives should be there in this para. Again, in para no five, it is better not to mention any look of OLQs. One can talk of negatives in different areas, adventurous nature and one can talk of improvement in hobbies and interests etc.

This exercise is for 15minutes and it is to be done in roughly a page and a half or so.