Adherence to ethical standards in using psychometric instruments is important to protect and preserve respondent's rights, as well as the integrity of the instrument. Users of all OPP's psychometric instruments are expected to achieve high standards in the administration and interpretation of these instruments.
Users who can be shown to have contravened the ethical principles for the use of the MBTI, as described below may be refused access to MBTI restricted materials, and may be asked to return any materials in their possession.
1. Commitment to the constructive use of individual differences
MBTI practitioners are committed to using the MBTI to support the self-awareness and development of individuals and teams. MBTI should never be used to restrict or limit an individual's options.
2. Practitioner competence
In the British Psychological Society's publication, "Psychological Testing Guidance for the User", it is clearly stated that "Responsible test publishers and distributors take care to sell tests only to users who have the appropriate qualifications to administer them and to interpret the results - that is, those who can provide evidence that they possess those qualifications. By restricting their own sales in this way, responsible distributors acknowledge that they are preventing the decline in values of psychological tests that would occur if they started to be administered by unqualified users."
OPP restricts access to restricted psychometric materials to those individuals who have appropriate training and who have successfully demonstrated their competence to use those instruments (Registered users), as outlined in OPP's Terms and Conditions of Restricted Materials.
Once registered, practitioners of the MBTI should practise within the confines of their own knowledge, competence and roles, and should maintain and update their knowledge and experience.
3. Administration and dissemination of results
The taking of the MBTI should always be voluntary. The respondent should always be fully informed of the intended use of results prior to the completion of the instrument. Administration should preferably be done face to face, but postal administration is permissible.
Feedback of MBTI results should always be provided in a full and complete manner, in a face-to-face setting. Information may be provided in group or individual settings, but should always include asking respondents to self-assess their type and helping them to verify their best-fit type. It is not sufficient to provide feedback of reported type alone, such as by sending a computer-generated report through the mail.
The MBTI type of an individual should never be revealed to others without the express consent of that individual.
MBTI data acquired for one purpose, e.g. teambuilding, should not be used for another purpose without the respondent's specific knowledge or consent.
It is acceptable to collate MBTI data at a group level (e.g. departmental or organisational) providing that the confidentiality of any individual's type is preserved.
4. Notes on conducting research with the MBTI
If the MBTI is being used in a research context such as to establish its reliability or validity, the experimental nature of its use should be clearly communicated to respondents.
The requirements for giving feedback on individual results may be waived where data are being gathered for research purposes only. Respondents should be told beforehand that they will not receive feedback. However, researchers are encouraged to provide feedback if an individual requests it.
5. Interpretation of results
MBTI preferences should always describe the preferences and types in positive and constructive terms, avoiding type bias and stereotyping.
MBTI preference scores should not be interpreted as traits and should always be referred to in terms of indicating the clarity with which the individual has reported their preference.
Respondents should be informed that psychological type theory reflects an individual's preferences, and not abilities, intelligence or likelihood of success. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use the MBTI in selecting people for jobs or assignments.
6. Legal and professional responsibilities
MBTI practitioners assume specific professional and legal obligations: