Psychological testing is one of the tests used by companies to select potential candidates to fill the required positions. There are two types of psychological tests to choose from, namely online and offline psychological tests. The emergence of online and offline psychological tests is part of technological progress, because initially there were only offline psychological tests to select candidates.

 

With the development of this technology, now companies can choose online or offline psychological tests to select the best candidates who will fill positions in the company. So what is the actual difference between these two psychological tests? Which is the best between the two?

 

What is a psychological test?

 

Before discussing in full about online and offline psychological testing, you should know what psychological testing is. Psychological tests are carried out to measure individuals psychologically. This test is often used for employee recruitment purposes and also in the world of education, such as when entering college. This test is carried out to assess a person's cognitive and emotional abilities through written, projective tests or verbal evaluations.

 

There are 3 (three) types of assessments in psychological tests, namely skills, cognitive and integrity assessments. Skills assessments are conducted to determine a candidate's strengths and weaknesses and these assessments are often used in social service industries, such as firefighting, law enforcement, or medical services.Cognitive assessment is used to assess how a person thinks logically and makes decisions. Finally, the integrity assessment is used to assess the candidate's integrity and how trustworthy the candidate is. Integrity assessments are used by companies that require honest employees, such as banks, financial institutions, and the like. Psychics is important to assess whether the candidate is suitable to work at the company, including whether the candidate fits the company's culture.

 

What are the benefits of a psychological test?

 

As one of the tests in the employee recruitment process, psychological testing has the following benefits:

 

Measure a candidate's intelligence

 

The first benefit is to measure the candidate's intelligence. Through the questions in the psychological test, the HR team will find out what the candidate's intelligence level is. From here the company will know which candidates suit the company's needs, especially in terms of intelligence level. This test can also eliminate candidates who do not suit the company's needs.

 

Recognizing Candidate Character and Personality

 

Psychological tests can also be a way to identify a candidate's character and personality. From the questions in the psychological test, it can be seen how the candidate deals with existing problems. This is a more effective method compared to the job interview method. However, in interviews, candidates can answer according to the answers desired by the recruitment team rather than being honest. Meanwhile, in a psychological test, it is not about right or wrong answers that are assessed. So candidates can give answers honestly.

 

Know the candidate's psychology

 

Knowing the candidate's psychology is the next benefit of carrying out a psychological test. Mentality is an important part when companies select candidates to fill the positions needed. This mentality will later influence how the candidate will work in the company. So it is important for companies to find out their mental state through psychological tests.

 

Work performance prediction section

 

Do you want to know the candidate's work performance? You can find out through a psychological test. For example, to assess a candidate's level of focus, you can use the Kraepelin test or Pauli test. From the answers given, you can know how focused the candidate is.

 

To Know the Candidate's Psychodynamics

 

It is also important for the company to know the psychodynamics or mental state of the candidate. This is one of the things that candidates want to know when carrying out a psychological test. The candidate's mental state is important because it will determine how the candidate will work in the company. Later this will also be useful for adjusting the tasks and responsibilities given. By implementing this psychological test, you can minimize the risk of stress or depression experienced by employees because they work for your company.

 

What is the difference between online and offline psychological tests?

 

Determining whether you will use an online or offline psychological test often makes you confused. So, before you decide which type of psychological test to choose, you have to know the differences between the two.

Here are the differences between the two that you must know before choosing:
 

Online psychology test

 

Online psychological tests use tests that have been tested and validated so that they meet the standards for implementing psychological tests. Therefore, you can get real time results with this psychological test. If you need a psychological assessment, you can choose this online psychological test. This psychological test is also suitable for candidates who are outside the city or when conditions do not allow for an offline test, for example due to traffic jams, floods, or others.

 

Candidates can take this test from anywhere as long as they have internet access. Because of its more flexible nature, you can also adjust the time for carrying out the test so that you can avoid the possibility of the test being canceled or having to be postponed because the schedule does not allow it. This online psychological test can also shorten time and provide faster results with the existing system. Candidates can easily access the psychological test results or download the results for personal storage.

 

Offline psychology test

 

Then what about offline psychological tests? Offline psychological testing is a type or method of psychological testing that was used before online psychological testing. This psychological test is also known as a paper based test which is carried out face to face, in a classical setting, or one on one. In this test, candidates will be given a sheet of paper and asked to answer the questions on the paper.

 

Usually, before the test is carried out, candidates will receive a message or email within a maximum of 2×24 hours and state what documents they must bring when taking the test. Usually the files that must be brought consist of a CV, recent photograph, and other supporting documents, all of which are put in a brown folder. Apart from the documents that must be brought, the email or message also explains the clothing provisions that must be worn, for example a white shirt with black trousers or a skirt.

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of online psychological testing?

 

Apart from these differences, HRD or business owners may want to know what the differences are between these two psychological tests before deciding which one to use. Make your considerations in determining psychological tests in your company, here are the differences between online and offline psychological tests:

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Psychological Testing

 

As a test carried out online, this psychological test has advantages and disadvantages. The following are the advantages of online psychological testing:

 

- Can be done remotely

- More flexible in terms of implementation

- You don't have to meet in person

- No paper required

- Results can be known more quickly

- The results obtained are more accurate

- Can be done with many participants

 

Meanwhile, the disadvantages of online psychological tests are as follows:

- The risk of participant fraud is greater

 

- Rely on the internet

 

- If the internet is disrupted, it still can't be implemented

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Offline Psychological Testing

 

Not only psychological tests are carried out online, offline psychological tests also have several advantages and disadvantages. The following are the advantages of offline psychological testing:

 

- Can meet and meet face to face with candidates

- Can minimize cheating in tests

- Can assess other aspects of the candidate, for example suitability of clothing

 

Meanwhile, the shortcomings of offline psychological testing are as follows:

 

- Requires greater costs 

 

- Spends a lot of time

 

- Cannot be done for many participants at once

 

- Does not support paperless

 

Which is better: online or offline psychological tests

 

Once you know the advantages and disadvantages of online and offline psychological tests, then which one is best for the employee recruitment process. In determining which psychological testing method, you must know the needs of the psychological test you want to carry out. As is known, each psychological testing method has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you need a psychological test without meeting the candidate in person to save more time, you can choose an online psychological test. If you really think you need a psychological test that meets in person because there is minimal cheating, then you can choose an offline psychological test.

 

However, if you want to gain efficiency in carrying out this psychological test, online psychological testing is the best choice. You can still carry out psychological tests without having to rent a place, apart from saving time, it is also more cost effective. In today's technological era, candidates usually prefer to take psychological tests online rather than offline. This is because they do not need to come to the place where the test is carried out and it can be done from anywhere, for example from home or boarding house. So, you can also consider which one is currently preferred by more candidates. That way, the possibility of candidates refusing to come to the psychological test is smaller.

 

What are the types of psychological tests?

 

Once you know the best between online and offline psychological tests, then what types of psychological tests can you choose?

Here are several types of psychological tests that you can consider to select potential candidates in your company:

 

a. Verbal ability test: used to find out the cause and effect of a problem

 

b. Wartegg test: used to find out a person's character in solving      problems, tenacity, and how to adapt.

 

c. Arithmetic logic test: used to find out how the candidate solves problems and also focuses.

 

d. Logical reasoning test: used to determine the candidate's character in solving problems and the candidate's focus.

 

Kraepelin test and Pauli test: to determine the candidate's focus and speed in completing tasks.

 

Conclusion

 

That was a complete explanation of online and offline psychological tests, consisting of their meaning, differences, and advantages and disadvantages. From the explanation in the article above, it can be seen that psychological tests are used to determine the character of candidates so that companies can get the best candidates according to the company's needs.

 

After all, these employee candidates will be at the forefront of advancing the company. So it is important for companies to get the best candidates. Sign up for Ipresens now at this link and get a 12 month free trial