Personality Tests

[Quant_umm]

In my English class today, we did some personality tests. We did the Keirsey temperament sorter but I've heard a lot the Myer Briggs test too. I feel there a but like tarot cards or horoscopes, in which they say vague, broad ideas to identify you such as "compassionate, honestly, anxious", to which to respond as the test or cards understanding or that they "get" you.
There might be some science behind it, and it has been studied quite a lot. Regardless, I don't think they hurt much and therefore I really enjoyed taking it.
I got INTJ, which is very cool. Introverted, looking for truth and reason, being stubborn and hard working.
What are your guys thoughts on them? And if you ever took one ( or want to: http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/register.aspx ) what did you get? What does it say about you? Did you find your results correct?

[brimstoneSalad]

Well, horoscopes take irrelevant superstitious nonsense information, and then feed you generic information.

Personality tests take relevant specific information, and then just feed the same information back to you in different words with less precision (simplified classifications).

So, it's a bit different.

They can be useful to convey information simply sometimes, but there's also information lost in the process.

For example, what if you're 49% E and 51% I? Well, then you're I. But, not really.
It groups you in the same way as somebody with 2% E and 98% I. That's where there's information loss.
But, if you preserve ALL of the information, it stops being useful as a means to simplify.

It's all about a reduction in precision for the purposes of simplicity, which is always a trade off.

Not sure if that was useful or not.

INTJ is apparently the rarest, but it's the one I seem to meet the most (or, at least, who know their MBTI). It seems common for smart and rational people.

EDIT: Also, to clarify, I don't think MBTI is necessarily fundamentally better or more useful than a Harry Potter sorting hat test. It's just dealing in different kinds of information, and simplifying/abstracting in different ways.

[Quant_umm]

Well, horoscopes take irrelevant superstitious nonsense information, and then feed you generic information.

Personality tests take relevant specific information, and then just feed the same information back to you in different words with less precision (simplified classifications).

So, it's a bit different.

They can be useful to convey information simply sometimes, but there's also information lost in the process.

For example, what if you're 49% E and 51% I? Well, then you're I. But, not really.
It groups you in the same way as somebody with 2% E and 98% I. That's where there's information loss.
But, if you preserve ALL of the information, it stops being useful as a means to simplify.

It's all about a reduction in precision for the purposes of simplicity, which is always a trade off.

Not sure if that was useful or not.

INTJ is apparently the rarest, but it's the one I seem to meet the most (or, at least, who know their MBTI). It seems common for smart and rational people.

EDIT: Also, to clarify, I don't think MBTI is necessarily fundamentally better or more useful than a Harry Potter sorting hat test. It's just dealing in different kinds of information, and simplifying/abstracting in different ways.

(Im on my phone and I really do hate quoting here because it's really difficult.)
I should have made my self a bit more clear. I entirely agree with you, i mean mine is "rare" and apparently very good but I don't feel like im smarter or better than anyone. It doesn't talk about my ability, more my personality.
Also i was hoping to convey how horoscopes and the test give you non specific information. They both use simplicity to establish a relationship, but i feel like the test are more... Accurate(?)

[unicyclist]

Horoscopes are entirely arbitrary while MBTI is a way to categorize people based on which direction they lean in on 4 different scales. The idea there is that the degree is less important than the direction. Can't say I'm a fan of false dichotomies, but taking the test is fun. Not that it matters, but I'm an INTP.

[brimstoneSalad]

I should have made my self a bit more clear. I entirely agree with you, i mean mine is "rare" and apparently very good but I don't feel like im smarter or better than anyone.

That's not what I said. I think you misunderstood my post.

Also i was hoping to convey how horoscopes and the test give you non specific information. They both use simplicity to establish a relationship, but i feel like the test are more... Accurate(?)

You might want to re-read my post.

MBTI does give you personally specific information, it's just the same specific information you gave it, fed back to you in a rounded off and less precise form.
"Are you outgoing? Yes? Then, you're an extrovert, congratulations, that means you're probably outgoing!"

See how that works?

Horoscopes give you NO personally specific information, just random information that could apply to anybody, or equally fail to do so. The entire premise of astrology is just wrong. It doesn't ask any information relevant to its pronouncements.
"Were you born in january? Yes? Then you're a Capricorn, congratulations, that means you're very practical!"

January has nothing whatsoever to do with being practical. It's complete nonsense.

I was saying a test like a Harry Potter sorting hat test ALSO gives you specific information (the same kind you gave it), just generalized/rounded off into a broad and arbitrary category.
"Are you ambitious and cunning? Yes? Then you're a Slytherin, congratulations, that means you're probably ambitious and cunning!"

See? The same as MBTI. Not like Horoscopes.

Both are distinct from Horoscopes, which shouldn't be compared to legitimate personality tests, since they have no value whatsoever. Totally different.

It's like the difference between a doctor giving you a diagnosis by asking two or three questions (which isn't terribly accurate) vs. pulling a diagnosis out of a hat (which is completely random), or diagnosing your illness based on the number of letters in your name, or the day of the week you got sick on.