Scientific Validity Of the MPJ   About the Leadership Matrix

In 1996 the MRA Notebook reported on a statistical analysis of the Measure of Practical Judgment. We reported that the only significant differences among groups were found when comparing the groups 25 years of age and below, with those 30 and older. Those 25 years of age and younger scored lower on the Empathic Judgment scale than those 30 and older by as much as two stanines. This became a strong training point in all subsequent Executive Leadership Seminars. It also reinforced our recommendation that this measure should be used more as a management tool than a selection tool. Factual and Empathic Judgment are skills that can be improved upon, as can any skill. This is particularly true with this instrument, as it is culture-bound, requiring sufficient life experiences within the prevailing culture to score well.

Many clients had difficulty believing was that there were no significant differences in Empathic Judgment among the five groups of personality profiles. What seems even harder to accept is that there was no difference in the level of empathy between males and females. Nonetheless, That is the case.

In 2001, a validity study was completed on the Measure of Practical Judgment by Dr. Robert Rose, a noted writer and expert on testing issues in the business world. He found that this measure showed strong construct and content validity, and the factors being measured were independent of each other. This prompted us to again look at the results of the study we conducted in 1996. This time we had a larger sample, with over one thousand subjects.

Our thanks to all who provided data.

The sample size five years ago was 641. In 2001, it was 1,116. These studies will continue, as we just revised the measure. The stanine tables will change as we receive new data.