A comparative view of the Myers-Briggs type indicator.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Many family practice residency programs use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in the process of resident advising. The purpose of this study was to validate the MBTI with an alternative personality evaluation instrument.

METHODS

We evaluated 44 residents with both the MBTI and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and computed correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

The highest correlations between the two tests were for the Extraversion/Introversion dimension of personality (r = -.71). The 16PF factors of Tough Poise, Independence, and Superego/Control were also significantly correlated with items on the MBTI. The Anxiety dimension of the 16PF yielded no significant correlations with the MBTI.

CONCLUSIONS

The Extraversion/Introversion variables of the MBTI and 16PF are highly correlated. Other variables on the 16PF and MBTI are also correlated.