Types Of Psychometric Tools

SPQ*Gold^®: The Sales Preference Questionnaire^TM
The SPQ*Gold, as it is commonly referred to, was developed to diagnose call reluctance in existing salespeople and to improve sales performance forecasting during selection; it is designed to supplement your organisation’s sales selection and development process. The SPQ*Gold is the only tool which measures contact initiation behaviours and attitudes associated with sales call reluctance, and the only scale to measure all twelve known types of call reluctance. 

Standard Progressive Matrices
The test of Conceptual Reasoning provides a valid measure of generalised intellectual functioning and correlates most highly with other tests of generalised or natural problem-solving capacity. The test itself requires the candidate to work with ambiguous, novel and highly complex information. The ability to grasp complex conceptual relationships and to operate without a basis of prior knowledge are some of the aptitudes found to be measured by this test.  Job competencies relevant to this measure include the capacity for flexible and creative thought, technical problem solving, the capacity to acquire information quickly and an aptitude for adapting existing knowledge to new situations.

Numerical Critical Reasoning
The test of Numerical Critical Reasoning assesses numerical competence at an analytical rather than computational or arithmetic level. Skills relevant to this measure include the capacity for complex problem solving of a quantitative or statistical type, the capacity to process a high volume of data from both connected and unconnected sources, and capacity to understand quantitative relationships and complex issues by means of applying mathematical principles and models.

Verbal Critical Reasoning
The test of Verbal Critical Reasoning is an assessment of the capacity for logic and deductive reasoning, the ability to utilise both deductive and inferential reasoning as a problem-solving tool and the ability to effectively use the English language in the analysis of written material. Job competencies relevant to this measure encompass the effective dispatch of correspondence, documentation and complex technical information. Additional competencies include negotiation skills and proficiency in verbal debate and argument. Deficits in this area would suggest that a candidate is better suited to work of a technical or non-verbal type and work where the primary focus of the role does not require either a speedy or accurate preparation of proposals, written negotiations or contractual agreements.

Verbal Reasoning
The test of Verbal Reasoning measures the ability to process information using English as a language base. This involves word identification, word understanding, basic logic and deductive reasoning, and common English usage. Job competencies which are relevant to this measure include the ability to communicate in English, written communication skills, the ability to understand written instructions and the ability to convey information in a clear and understandable format such as presentations to individuals or groups.

Numerical Reasoning
The test of Numerical Reasoning measures basic arithmetic agility, understanding and use of numbers as a reasoning tool and quantitative reasoning. Competencies relevant to this measure include numerical and financial calculations and basic statistical calculations.

Decision Making
The test of Decision Making measures the ability to understand and apply rules, regulations and criteria in choosing between options. It is considered a demanding test which draws on several skills at the same time, including understanding instruction, making categorisation and coding decisions and the ability to do simple calculations. Competencies relevant to this measure include the ability to come to grips quickly with the type of information used for planning, scheduling, supervisory and management duties.

Perceptual Speed
The test of Perceptual Speed measures the ability to rapidly compare visual images and identify two images as similar or identical or, to identify a particular detail that is buried in distracting information. This ability is applicable to quality control issues on production lines where workers need to visually check the product (e.g., for the correct labelling) as it passes through the line.

Mechanical Comprehension
The test of Mechanical Comprehension measures the understanding of basic mechanical principles and their application to a number of devices, including pulleys, gears and levers. Questions typically require candidates to visualize movement from a realistic drawing. A core skill relevant in many technical jobs.

Fault Diagnosis
The test of Fault Diagnosis assesses the ability to identify faults in logical systems. No specialised knowledge is required. The candidate is given a number of sequences representing various processes and must locate which particular processor in each sequence is not working as specified.

Technical Checking
The test of Technical Checking measures the ability to detect errors when information has been changed from one form, for example numerical, into another form, for example verbal. Skills required to be demonstrated include the ability to translate information in one form into another, and the capacity to ensure consistency of information presented in different forms.