16-PF as meetinstrument vir dir keuring van opvoedkundige sielkundiges

Abstract

Research was conducted to determine whether the 16-PF can be used as an objective measurement for the selection of prospective educational psychologists. A wellgrounded literature study was performed about the task of the educational psychologist and skills and personality features which make the task of the educational psychologist easier. The task of the educational psychologist is not of an individual nature, directed at individual problems any more, but covers a wide field which demands that the educational psychologist comes forward with new initiatives. The traditional task of diagnosing, assisting, administrating and conducting research must be extended to one which also emphasizes proactive programmes, mental health, prevention of problems and human development. The nature of the task makes high demands on the educational psychologist and requires the mastering of a variety of skills. A large variety of factors have been found in literature which could make the task of the educational psychologist easier. These factors can be grouped together as cognitive factors, factors which contribute to the creation of an educational climate and accompanying interpersonal relations and rapport, factors which indicate the use of an external reference framework, and factors which indicate mental health. These identified factors were related to the factor patterns of the 16-PF and were derived to personality factors. These latter factors which were thus obtained, were used to compile a personality profile for educational psychologists. The following personality profile for educational psychologists was derived from the literature study: outgoing (affectothymia; A+), high intelligence (B+), higher ego strength (C+), higher superego strength (G+), socially venturesome (H+), shrewdness (N+) and self-assuredness (0-). According to literature, withdrawal (A-) and dominance (E+) are regarded as negative features of the educational psychologist. The personality profile was assessed by experts with the use of the Delphi technique. From the results of the Delphi investigation it appears that the experts support the suggested personality profile. The personality features are regarded as extremely important, and comment on the personality profile was positive. The findings of the research contribute to the solution of the problem around the selection of educational psychologists since an objective assessment of the prospective student's abilities can be obtained by means of the 16-PF.