Psychometric testing made easy

May 14, 2012

Psychometric testing will now be more accessible to employers thanks to a new do-it-yourself assessment tool launched by one of Australia's leading workforce consulting companies.

The new tool, TRACES^TM, has been tipped to revolutionise the human resources world according to Head of Consulting at Chandler Macleod, Jeremy Nichols.

TRACES^TM will allow companies to conduct psychometric tests without the expense of using a trained psychologist. Developed after more than five years of research by Chandler Macleod's Research and Development team, TRACES^TM provides more consistent results, fewer distorted profiles and improved accuracy compared to existing assessment tools.

Psychometric testing usually involves a personality questionnaire or an intellectual ability test and is used to determine a candidate's suitability for a given position. Mr Nichols said the new product was much more user-friendly than anything else currently on the market.

"What we have done is develop a do-it-yourself tool for companies that is cost effective and does not require a psychologist to decipher the results," he said.

"It fills a real need, allowing employers to harness the power of psychometric testing without going to great expense."

Mr Nichols said it was ideal for companies hiring large workforces that would normally shy away from using complex and costly personality tests.

The TRACES^TM product is an automated program that allows employees to do an online personality questionnaire. The software generates three reports: one for the recruiter, one for the manager and a third for the candidate, all of which are easy to interpret by each individual.

Mr Nichols said TRACES^TM would reduce the hiring risk for companies looking to employ workers in non-tertiary and non-specialised roles.

"The tool is perfect for anyone looking to fill a number of positions in a warehouse or on a mine site," he said.

"The benefit of this assessment over those currently in use, including the Humm Wadsworth Temperament Scale, is the utter simplicity of it."

"Any HR professional will be able to interpret the results and make better hiring choices because of it."

Mr Nichols said extensive testing had proven the software delivered relevant and effective results.

We wanted to ensure that the tool would provide reliable, predictable and credible results every time," he said.

"Our research has shown we can clearly demonstrate the science behind what the tool does."

"We know TRACES^TM meets, if not exceeds, established industry benchmarks for reliability and validity."

Mr Nichols said Chandler Macleod was not downplaying the importance of using detailed psychometric tests or the input of trained psychologists.

"Obviously if you are filling managerial, executive or specialist roles you may want to employ a psychologist due to the added hiring risk involved," he said.

"What we have done with TRACES^TM is make psychometric testing more accessible and, at the same time, demystify the process."

Mr Nichols said currently companies wanting to utilise the service could ask for an assessment but, as of the new financial year, companies would be able to self-administer under a license agreement.

"This will give businesses a great deal of flexibility in hiring and will no doubt improve the outcome for both the employer and candidate."

* TRACES^TM was developed after more than five years of research by Chandler Macleod's Research and Development team. The scientific rigour in development has resulted in increased reliability. As an automated assessment option, TRACES^TM provides more consistent results, fewer distorted profiles, improved accuracy and reduced risk. The consistency of TRACES^TM is derived through the use of up to date and unambiguous language, with simplified Candidate questions and reports written in a non-clinical manner.

For further information about Chandler Macleod's Automated Assessment solutions, including the TRACES^TM tool, please click here.

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