[meta] SSS 80-question questionnaire critique
Some people expressed interest in hearing my thoughts on the 80q questionnaire, which Joy has advocated for typing people. The questionnaire does give some good information, mainly because of how long it is. But the idea behind the questionnaire is that it is supposed to force people to use the given IM element, and people will switch to other ones depending on their type. In my opinion it does not really accomplish this in most of the questions. Many of the questions are either only vaguely related to IM or are actually related to different IM elements. Comments are in italics.
Block I (Ti)
General to specific, specific to general – what does it mean?
This is Ti but it's sort of a bizarre question to ask. I'm not a fan of the "define the term" questions really.
What does "logical" mean? What is your understanding? Do you think that it correlates with the common view?
Same
How do you explain fractions on the dial of the clock?
Same, but I don't even know what the expected answer here is. I guess the idea is that the clock is divided into 12ths.
What is a rule? What rules do you have to follow?
Same, too vague.
What is hierarchy? Do you need to follow it? Why or why not?
Hierarchy also involves Se.
What do you think of instructions? Do you use them? Could you write an instruction manual? If so, what type of instruction manual would you most likely write?
sure, also Ti, maybe with some Te.
Please explain: "Freedom is in complying with the laws, but not in ignoring the laws"? Do you agree with the statement? Why?
TiSe
Tell us how about consistent you are?
Ti
What is a "standard"? Why do people need it?
Ti, but again rather vague.
How do you feel about this block?
Overall this block is getting at the right kind of information, much more than most other ones. It has some rather vague and unmotivated questions, but if people make an honest attempt at answering them they will have to use Ti.
Block II (Te)
What is work in your opinion? Why do people go to work? Are there any parameters where you can distinguish whether you can do this work or not?
Pretty good, although "work" can be an Se word also. The third question is too vague but it's sort of an NeTe question.
Is there any correlation between quality and quantity? Tell us if or how the price depends on quality?
TeSi
How do people determine the quality of work? How do you determine such quality? How well you can determine the quality of any purchase, do you pay any attention to it?
TeSi
How do you feel if you didn't finish some work? Does it ever happen? What are the reasons?
What is "Interesting work" for you?
really Ne
You go to the store and see something you're interested in buying; there is a price tag on it. What parameters are you going to use to understand if it's overpriced, underpriced, or priced correctly?
Te
When you work and someone tells you: "You don't do it right." What is your reaction?
Te
There is a professional right next to you. You always see that you can't perform the way they do. Your feelings, thoughts and actions?
Te
When you have to ask someone else to help you with the task, how do you feel?
Te
You need to build a pyramid exactly like in Egypt. Your thoughts, feelings and actions?
maybe some Se, building a pyramid is a rather large project
How did you feel about this block?
This block is mostly about Te but it doesn't give a whole lot of insight into how good someone is at understanding/doing it.
Block III (Si)
What is beauty? Do you change your opinion about beauty? Does your understanding correlate with the generally accepted notion? What goes beyond the generally accepted notion?
"Beauty" can be related to Si, Fe, or Se. Primarily people are going to use the latter two to answer this.
Please describe your understanding of a beautifully dressed person. What is the core of beauty? How do you explain what is beautiful to a person who has never heard about beauty before?
same
Is there a template of understanding what beautiful means for everyone to use? Is there such a term as "classical beauty"? If so, what is it?
Again, this is not likely to elicit Si usage.
What is comfort? What is coziness? How do you create your comfort and coziness? How do others evaluate your skill in doing so? Do you agree with them?
good
How do you pick your own clothes? Do you follow fashion? Why? Do you know how to select clothes for different types of figures?
Fashion is really more Fe.
How do you cook? Do you follow recipes? What do others think of your skill?
TeSi, also Ne
Are you good at color patterns and mixing them and matching?
Similar to the first question, possibly some ethics again.
If someone is telling you what is beautiful and what is not, what goes with what color and what is not, do you agree with this person?
Tell us how you'd design any room, house or an office. Do you do it yourself or trust someone else to do it? Why?
Si, but also involves ethics (the way I understand it, interior design is usually not about pragmatic function).
How do you know if a person has bad taste? Could you give us an example? Do you always trust your own taste or do you seek opinions from others?
FeSi
How do you feel about this block?
Pretty mediocre. I'm not sure there are a lot of written questions that would elicit usage of Si. Si is very experiential and difficult to explain using abstract terminology.
Block IV (Se)
Can you line up human resources and make them do things? What methods do you use? Can you press people? If so, how does it happen?
good, maybe a little Te
What is incursion? How do you deal with this? Can you repulse? How easy can you do it?
Se but vague
What does "my people" and "strangers" mean? When do "my people" become "strangers" and why?
ditto. Maybe some Fi.
Are there strategies of attack? Can you use them? When is it justified?
Se but vague
Do you think it's ok to occupy someone else's territory? In what situations?
Se doesn't really evaluate whether something is "ok", it just does it. That's more Ti, or maybe Fi.
What are the methods of volitional force? When is it most effective and in what situations?
vague
How do you protect yourself and your interests?
fine
Describe your behavior in the situations of opposition and if you have to use some force?
good
Do others think of you as a strong person? Do you think you are a strong person?
good
How do you understand if a person is strong? Are there any signs of a strong person? What is the core of any force? Why do people listen to one person, but not the other?
good
Like Ti, overall this block demonstrates a good understanding of the element.
Block V (Fi)
What is boorishness? Does your understanding of it correlate with the generally accepted notion? How would you explain what boorishness mean to a 10 year old child? How would you explain the same to an adult who does not behave ethically?
boorish: "rough and bad-mannered; coarse." No connection to Fi whatsoever. Fe or even FeSi.
How would you improve the moral of the society?
Could be Fi but also Ti. Really Ti is more about evaluating things at the societal level.
Can you justify somebody's bad behavior by thinking that he/she wasn't taught how to do so?
This is FiNe. I don't see how the question exactly evaluates one's relationship to this, it's just a yes or no question.
Give us your understanding of love. Can you love and punish at the same time?
"love" is Fi, could also elicit an Fe response though. Punishment is related to Se.
Have you heard about the Southern hospitality? Everything is for the guest. There is also a German hospitality – the master of the house is always right. What method is the right one? Try to evaluate without the weight of any cultural aspects, traditions, nations etc.
This is like "FeSi or TiSe - which is better?" Nothing to do with Fi.
What is sympathy? When do you need to express it? When is it advised not to?
Sympathy is Fi but I'm not sure this is a great way to evaluate someone's understanding of it.
Are there any norms of behavior in the society? Do you follow them? Do people always have to follow them? Why?
Ti
How do you know what attitude among people is right or wrong?
Fi valuers do not generally care about others' attitudes. That's really more about Fe.
What does moral mean? What is immoral? Does your understanding correlate with the others? How can you evaluate the correctness of your own understanding?
Fi or Ti
Somebody is giving you a negative attitude – what is your reaction? Could you show your own negative attitude toward someone else? If so, how? Could you give a person the silent treatment? How easily do you forgive people?
ethics in general
How did you feel about this block?
This block is extremely flawed and tests other IM elements, although it has a few Fi questions.
Block VI (Fe)
"Whole world does not cost one tear of child" – how do you understand this phrase? Do you agree with this opinion?
This is really Fi
Is it acceptable to express emotions? Give examples of inappropriate expression of emotions.
Fe, although vague/pointless
Can you use negative emotions? In what situations?
hmmm - "using" emotions sounds more like SeFi, though it involves Fe.
How do you express negative emotions? What does it look like? What do others think about it?
fine
Shallow emotions – what does it mean? Are there any other emotions?
Fi valuers might consider certain emotions "shallow", but that's using Fi. Seems like they got Fi and Fe backwards.
What are right or wrong emotions?
Not Fe.
Can you change the emotional state of yourself? Of others? To what side – positive or negative?
fine
What does it mean to "pour out your emotions"? How does it happen?
fine
Does your internal emotional state correlate with what you show externally?
Fe but not likely to give clear information about type
Do you track what mood you are in throughout the day? Do you notice the mood of others?
good
This block is sort of middling in its relation to Fe, though it may produce responses that give information.
Block VII (Ni)
Do you like surprises?
Surprises = Ne, so to that extent a negative answer could indicate low or unvalued Ne
How people change? How do you feel about those changes? Can others see the changes?
ok sort of
Is it true that whatever happens is only for the best?
Not really Ni, or at least not very high Ni. An ESE might very well express this view.
What do you think of horoscopes, fortune telling etc.? Do you believe in luck, lucky fortuity?
These things are related to Ni, not so much luck.
Can you forecast events? Is it even real?
poor English here -- believing in fortunetelling is not necessarily about Ni. For example, Gamma NTs might be skeptical of it due to Te.
What is time? How do you feel time? Can you "kill" time? How?
Ni but vague
Do you need help creating forecasts and determining how something will end? Do you trust those forecasts?
ok
Are you normally late? How do you react if someone is late?
Russian socionists classically attribute Ni to timeliness, which I don't agree with at all. Ni creatives seem to be more in a rush than Ni leading types but this also has to do with Se.
Imagine the situation where you agreed to meet with someone. Your feelings and actions: a) 20 minutes before the meeting starts, b) 5 minutes before the meeting starts, c) it is time for the meeting to start, but the person is not here, d) 20 minutes after the meeting start time and the person is not here, e) more time and the person is still not here…
same thing.
How did you feel about this block?
Average quality
Block VIII (Ne)
Is there a meaning of life? In what? Is it the same for everybody?
Ni, or even NiFe
What should be done so people can be happy?
more FeSi than Ne
In the situations with a lot of potential and volatility will you trust your own guts, logically calculating everything or will you ask people you trust what should be done?
potential is Ne, sure, but volatility is more Se. The actual question part at the end may also involve logic.
When you meet a stranger, what can you say about them right away? How do you know what this person is all about? Does it take long to understand someone's talents?
You can't really get an Ne impression right when you meet someone. You're mostly going based off how they look, their mannerisms -- Fe and Se.
Remember an interesting person and call out 5-6 qualities you think are interesting in them. What makes an interesting person? Are you an interesting person? Why? What if someone calls you "boring" and "not interesting"?
Good, this is Ne.
What opinions, from people who know you, seem: a) fair; b) not fair; c) hurtful; d) strange.
The general ability to consider different views is Ne, possibly also with Ti. So the first two are ok, but (c) involves Fi.
Do you fantasize? What kind of fantasies do you have?
Maybe Ne but more Ni.
What qualities should a person have to be successful and why?
"Success" is an Se word mainly, it implies a singular notion of how to be successful (Ni).
What qualities can stop a person from being successful and why?
ditto
What is more important in life – to be a good person or be a successful one? Why? Is a good person always successful? If not, then why?
ditto. Also, "being a good person" really has little to do with Ne, it's really Fi.
This block has hardly anything to do with Ne, it could be vastly improved.
Overall, the blocks that seem to do the job they're supposed to do are the Se and Ti blocks -- and this does seem to be demonstrated in the examples I've seen so far. Everything else is sort of a mixed bag, but if people give long enough answers their thought process will likely be exposed to some degree. I would like to make a questionnaire at some point but it will take some work.
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Originally Posted by Chae
Parable 
It was just incredibly weird and vague questions to me for the most part. ...And later it did help me understand Ne as an IE better by trying to look at the aspects that the Ne block emphasized. (Better, well, not really, but helped me recognize it more in people etc.)
