Learn what to do when stress affects personality assessment results. Follow these expert guidelines to decide if a retest is necessary and ensure fair candidate evaluation.
Personality assessments are designed to measure stable traits that typically remain consistent over time, even in the face of temporary stress. That said, we recognize that significant life events or emotional distress can sometimes influence how a test taker interprets and responds to assessment items.
In light of this, we offer the following recommendations:
- Evaluate the Nature of the Concern
If the test taker has shared specific details about the stressor and how it may have impacted their responses, this can help contextualize the results. However, it’s also important to respect the test taker’s privacy. Test takers are under no obligation to disclose personal information as part of the assessment process, so we recognize these details may not be available to you.
- Consider a One-Time Retest
If your team determines that the stress experienced by the test taker was significant and the test taker is otherwise a strong fit, allowing a one-time retest may be a reasonable accommodation. We recommend a minimum waiting period of 2 weeks prior to retesting. This interval helps reduce the likelihood of score contamination due to familiarity with the assessment, and allows time for any acute stressors to subside. It should also be communicated to the test taker that retesting does not guarantee different results, as personality traits are generally stable over time.
- Establish a Consistent Policy
To support fairness and transparency, we recommend implementing a clear policy that outlines when retests are permitted and under what conditions. As a best practice, retesting should typically be reserved for exceptional cases, such as when a test taker experiences a major life event that may have substantially affected their responses.
- Use Results as Part of a Broader Evaluation
Whether or not a retest is conducted, we encourage you to consider the assessment alongside additional information about the test taker when making final decisions.