HPI-HDS-MVPI Interpretation Cheat Sheet
HPI-HDS-MVPI Interpretation Cheat Sheet
HPI-HDS-MVPI Interpretation Cheat Sheet
ADJUSTMENT
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation:
If the participant scores low on the If the participant has a low or average Adjustment score, their subscale scores
Adjustment scale, their low-Adjusted become more important – use them to help you interpret their Adjustment
tendencies may impact their entire HPI score.
profile. Low Adjustment scorers’
tendencies to (a) focus on the negative Subscale Higher Scorers…
and (b) be self-deprecating often impacts Empathy a Seem to emotionally identify with others
how they respond to the HPI and HDS Not Anxious a Don’t worry often
items. As a result, their HPI profiles often No Guilt a Don’t have a lot of regret
are compressed (fewer high scores) and Calmness b Seem calm (not volatile)
their HDS profiles often contain many Even Tempered b Seem patient
elevated scores. In these scenarios, No Complaints b Seem upbeat and don’t complain often
Trusting Seem to believe in and trust others
interpret the relatively highest HPI scores
Good Attachment Seem to have good relations w/ authority
as “High” scores. See HDS section for a Internal stress response not apparent to others (i.e., internal churn)
hints regarding interpretation of multiple b External stress response that is apparent to others (e.g., emotionality)
elevated HDS scores.
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
▪ Calm, consistent, & predictable ▪ Unwilling to be self-critical
▪ Able to handle pressure & stressful conditions with ▪ Won’t pay much attention to constructive feedback or
ease advice
High
▪ Even-tempered, upbeat, & optimistic ▪ Appears indifferent to deadlines & seems nonchalant
Scores
▪ Patient with others ▪ Doesn’t ask for others’ input
▪ Doesn’t take problems or criticism personally ▪ Unrealistically optimistic at times
▪ Unlikely to overreact
▪ Emotionally expressive ▪ Tense & self-critical; Worrisome & stress prone
▪ Non-complacent ▪ Moody & temperamental; Wears emotions on sleeve
Low
▪ Self-aware & open to feedback ▪ Easily irritated with others
Scores
▪ Shows a sense of urgency (if Ambition score is high) ▪ Defensive about work
▪ Concerned about avoiding “negatives” ▪ Takes criticism personally
1
AMBITION
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation:
The Ambition scale provides insight regarding the Ambition subscales will help you better interpret an average or low
degree to which the participant seems “leader-like,” Ambition score. Subscales tell you about facets of the participant’s
outwardly confident, and driven. Some individuals reaction style that impact the overall degree to which the participant
score low on the Adjustment scale but score high on seems leader-like.
the Ambition scale. These individuals will be
described as confident; however, their achievement- Subscale High Scorers…
orientation, initiative, and persistence often is fueled Competitive Demonstrate a healthy degree of competitiveness
by internal self doubt (low Adjustment). See Dr. Self Confident Demonstrate self assurance
Hogan’s commentary regarding the relationship Accomplishment Share information about their accomplishments
between anxiety and achievement Leadership Make an effort to step into leadership positions
(http://www.hoganassessments.com/personality Identity Seem to have career direction
_research/hogan_commentary_detail.aspx?id=1). No Social Anxiety Seem comfortable speaking to large audiences
SOCIABILITY
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation:
Sociability provides insight Don’t place too much weight on the participant’s Sociability subscale scores (focus
regarding the degree to which your attention at the main scale level). Notice that the first three Sociability subscales
the participant is socially deal with the frequency by which the participant puts him/herself in social situations;
proactive. Higher scorers tend the last two subscales deal with interacting with others (versus just being in social
to be “engagers” whereas lower situations).
scorers tend to need engaging.
Higher scorers seem very Subscale High Scorers…
outgoing; lower scorers seem Likes Parties Seem affable
very utilitarian about Likes Crowds Seem to enjoy affiliating
communication (i.e., they Experience Seeking Seem to enjoy variety & challenge
communicate only when a true Exhibitionistic Gravitate toward the center of attention
need to do so exists). Entertaining Are described as witty & engaging
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
Outgoing, gregarious, and charismatic Seems to dislike working alone
Socially proactive – initiates interactions and Attention seeking
relationships Loud, demanding, and outspoken (check Int. Sensitivity)
High
Seems to enjoy being center of attention May not listen well
Scores
Easily approachable Interruptive and confuses activity with productivity--
Seems to enjoy working with and being around i.e., unnecessary socializing with coworkers
others
Independent Doesn’t initiate interaction & relationships often
Has an agenda when communicating Doesn’t give others feedback (misses out on
Seems content to work on their own opportunities to “see others in action”)
Low Effective listener (provides others ample opportunity Doesn’t proactively network
Scores to talk) May struggle with social interaction & seem withdrawn
Tends to cultivate strong one-on-one relationships Waits for others to engage him or her
Business-like & task-focused communication
approach
2
INTERPERSONAL SENSITIVITY
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation:
Interpersonal Sensitivity provides Don’t place too much weight on the participant’s Interpersonal Sensitivity subscale
insight regarding the degree to which scores; interpret scores at the main scale level.
the participant’s interaction style
seems warm, friendly, empathic, and Subscale High Scorers…
nurturing versus direct, Easy to Live With Seem permissive and easy going
straightforward, and forthcoming. Sensitive Seem considerate
This scale will help you understand Caring Seem perceptive and interpersonally sensitive
how the participant deals with Likes People Seems to enjoy being around other people
conflict and non-performance issues. No Hostility Seems tolerant and eager to forgive
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
Friendly & engaging Procrastinates when required to confront performance
Warm & agreeable problems (or shirks this responsibility)
Seems to nurture relationships Thin-skinned & prone to taking feedback personally
High
Encourages teamwork & cooperation Dependent on other’s opinions
Scores
Earns others’ trust Conflict averse
Builds & maintains coalitions Overly eager to please; Has difficulty saying “no”
Gathers opinions before taking action Attempts at direct & forthright communication fall short
Task oriented Appears cold & tough
Willing to give negative feedback Can seem critical & skeptical
Low Can speak their mind & offer truly honest opinions Directs rather than suggests
Scores Seems forthright & independent May seem argumentative & painfully objective
Challenges business assumptions Doesn’t build a sense of teamwork
Willing to confront others May seem brusque or harsh
PRUDENCE
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation: The Prudence subscales will help you make better
Prudence provides insight regarding the sense of average to lower Prudence scores. Be sure to check the first three
degree to which the participant seems Prudence subscales – if the participant endorses nearly all of these items in a
detailed, rule-abiding, and organized positive direction (12-14 positive responses out of 14 possible), the participant
versus flexible, spontaneous, and is presenting him or herself in a very socially desirable manner.
receptive to change. Be sure to pay
attention to the Moralistic, Mastery, and Subscale High Scorers…
Virtuous subscales, very high scores on Seem self-righteous (“I always practice what I
these subscales suggest the participant Moralistic a
preach”
may have responded to the assessment Mastery a Seem diligent (“I do my job as well as I possibly can”)
in an overly socially-desirable manner. Seem perfectionistic (“I strive for perfection in
We don’t necessarily consider high Virtuous a
everything I do”)
scorers on the Moralistic, Mastery, and Not Autonomous Seem to care what other people think about them
Virtuous scales to be “fakers,” these are Not Spontaneous b Plan their lives; Seem very structured
just individuals who (a) are very socially- Impulse Control b Seem self disciplined
skilled, (b) are very good at managing Avoids Trouble b Avoid scenarios that could get them into trouble
impressions, and (c) should be monitored a Provide insight regarding (a) socially-desirable responding and (b) following
carefully, at least initially, because things other peoples’ rules
might not always be as good and rosy as b Provide insight regarding (a) detail orientation & (b) propensity for risk taking
they say they are.
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
Dependable, reliable, & trustworthy Rigid & inflexible about rules & procedures
Organized, thorough, & detail-oriented Resistant to change
High Conscientious & hard working Formal & over-conforming
Scores Rule compliant (follow rules to the letter) May micromanage others
Plans work & anticipates changes in workload Doesn’t delegate well
Good organizational citizen Difficulty seeing the “big picture”
Flexible Poor planner
Open-minded & open to change Impatient with details & supervision
Low
Can be innovative & original Disorganized & careless
Scores
Non-conforming Easily bored
Willing to take risks Impulsive & spontaneous
3
INQUISITIVE
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation: Do not place too much emphasis on Inquisitive subscale scores.
Higher scorers on the Why? Many Inquisitive items sound unrelated to work; therefore, answers to the items
Inquisitive scale seem themselves are not terribly meaningful. For example, although items like “I know why stars
analytical, can quickly twinkle” seem a bit unusual, responses to these items predict something meaningful – how
make sense of seemingly- others describe the participant. Pay particular attention to one subscale score if you notice an
unrelated data points, and average to low Inquisitive score – “Generates Ideas”. If an individual scores lower on
have the potential to be Inquisitive but has a higher Generates Ideas subscale score, he/she likely is capable of
creative. They tend to generating creative ideas; however, he/she likely has a strong “practicality filter” (i.e., he/she
solve problems by tends to refine ideas extensively before sharing them to ensure the idea others hear sounds
conceptualizing and practical).
brainstorming. Lower
scorers seem practical, Subscale High Scorers…
tend to employ strategies Science Seem to appreciate rationality & are interested in science
that have worked Curiosity Seem open-minded
effectively in the past, and Thrill Seeking Seem stimulus-seeking
solve problems in a Intellectual Games Seem to enjoy problem solving for its own sake
hands-on manner. Generates Ideas Seem able to generate unique ideas easily
Culture Seem interested in culture
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
Imaginative, inventive, & creative Over-analyzes problems and, as a result, has trouble
Quick-witted & resourceful making decisions
Able to quickly recognize connections between data Impractical (doesn’t consider how ideas that sound
High points good in theory could work in practice)
Scores Understands the big picture Can become easily bored
Thinks strategically & understands long-term Lacks tolerance for the routine
implications Impatient with process-related details
Interested in speculative ideas Poor implementer
Practical Not a sole source for creative & innovative ideas
Very focused interests Has a narrow perspective & often fails to consider the
Low Tolerates routine or mundane tasks big picture
Scores Not easily bored Lacks imagination & resist innovation
Applies solutions that worked effectively in the past Uncomfortable in ambiguous situations
Can help refine ideas to ensure they are practical Uses familiar (vs. creative) ways to solve problems
LEARNING APPROACH
Key Points: Subscale Interpretation: Do not place too much emphasis on Learning
The Learning Approach scale provides insight Approach subscale scores. Why? Many of the Learning Approach items
regarding how the participant approaches sound unrelated to work; therefore, answers to Learning Approach
learning and staying up to date. High scorers items themselves are not terribly meaningful.
seem to inherently enjoy learning and tend to use
more traditional learning approaches (reading, Subscale High Scorers…
attending classes). Lower scorers tend to be “just Good Memory Have a strong power of recall
in time” learners who use hands-on learning Education Demonstrate academic talent
approaches. Math Ability Demonstrate numerical ability
Reading Demonstrate verbal talent
“Upsides” Potential “Downsides”
Enjoys & seems to value formal education Seems intolerant of the less-informed
Seem insightful May over-rationalize events
High Stays up-to-date with recent technical & business “Know-it-all”
Scores developments May lack depth on topics
Seems achievement-oriented (check Ambition May get sidetracked by unrelated topics that pique
scores) his/her interest
Takes advantage of hands-on learning experiences Views education as something to endure (versus
Approaches learning opportunities with a clear something to enjoy)
Low
objective in mind Has narrow interests (check Inquisitive)
Scores
Applies skills rather than learns new concepts May need a “push” to take advantage of learning
Is strategic about learning (does so when needed) opportunities
4
Preparing for Feedback: HDS
Keep the following tips in mind when reviewing the participant’s HDS results:
Contrast the HDS with the HPI. Both provide insight regarding the participant’s reputation; however, while the HPI provides
insight about response tendencies noticed day-to-day, the HDS provides insight regarding how the participant tends to
respond when he/she is stressed, under pressure, or when he/she gets so comfortable that he/she stops monitoring
him/herself.
The HDS will help the participant understand the tendencies that likely will impede his/her performance.
HDS scores are interpreted in terms of a “Risk Level.” The higher the risk level, the more likely it is that specific “derailing”
tendencies will negatively impact the participant’s performance. When helping the participant understand his/her HDS
results, focus specifically on his/her Moderate and High Risk scores. You may want to help the participant understand
what a No or Low Risk score suggests (little chance a related derailer will impact his/her performance); however, you will
not need to discuss these scales in detail. One exception exists – if the participant scores extremely low on either the
Bold, Colorful, Mischievous, and Imaginative scales, you may want to discuss the implications of this type of scoring.
Very often, “derailment” tendencies highlighted by the HDS are related to overuse or misuse of strengths; as such, you will
often notice relationships between extremely high or low HPI scores and elevated HDS scores.
Help the participant understand that almost everyone has elevations on at least a couple of HDS scales (the average
number of high risk elevations--those above the 90th percentile--in an executive population is 2.5). Certain “derailment”
tendencies are more detrimental depending upon (a) the demands of the participant’s job, (b) his/her goals, and (c) the
organization’s culture (e.g., specific “derailing” tendencies are more salient in specific cultures).
5
Multiple HDS Elevations & HDS Scale “Clusters”
When you see multiple HDS elevations within the same profile, focus less time and attention on the individual scales and,
instead, focus more energy on discussing the implications of clusters of elevated scale scores. HDS profiles containing
multiple elevations are not anomalies. Oftentimes, individuals who score low on HPI Adjustment have multiple HDS
elevations. This tendency makes intuitive sense for several reasons. First, lower Adjustment scorers are more sensitive to
stress, setbacks, and inconveniences. Because their fuses are shorter, they tend to operate in “high stress” mode (measured
by the HDS) more often. Second, lower scorers on Adjustment focus predominantly on the negative and can be, at times,
pessimistic (often about their own performance and abilities). In a positive sense, their focus on the negative leads them to
always strive for something better and, often, push themselves very hard (particularly if the participant scores low on the
Adjustment scale); however, low Adjustment also suggests a tendency to focus negativity inward by being self-doubtful, self-
critical, and self-deprecating. Lower scorers on Adjustment, if asked to evaluate their own performance, will tell you ten
things that they can do better, but will be hard pressed to tell you about things that they did well. This negative focus is in
play when the individual responds to the HDS – the HDS asks the participant black and white questions regarding themselves
and, whenever possible, low Adjustment scorers take the opportunity to evaluate themselves critically, leading to more HDS
elevations.
You will often see Hogan scale scores that seem to contradict one another (e.g., Mischievous and Cautious). These scale
scores don’t contradict one another. Instead, they highlight inconsistencies in the participant’s response style that often are
confusing from an observer’s perspective. Regardless of whether you are focusing at the scale level (Mischievous vs.
Cautious) or at the "cluster" level (Moving Away vs. Moving Against), if an individual does not respond to the world and work in
a consistent manner, relationships and reputation may be damaged.
HDS Cluster HDS Scales Implications
Excitable Tends to respond to stress and pressure by pulling away from and seeming indifferent
Skeptical towards others (many times, in an effort to avoid criticism or negative evaluations). Others
Moving
Cautious tend to describe them as independent, aloof, and/or detached. The general theme with this
Away cluster is to distance oneself from the stressful situation/person either by (1) removing
Reserved
Leisurely oneself from the stressor or (2) driving others away.
Bold Tends to respond to stress and pressure by asserting power and trying to dominate others,
often in an effort to "build themselves up" and make themselves feel "better" than others.
Moving Mischievous
Others tend to describe them as overly assertive, argumentative, stubborn, and willing to
Against Colorful challenge others. They may always seem to have their boxing gloves on, as they tend to
Imaginative ascribe to the motto "strike before being struck."
Tends to respond to stress and pressure by seeking the acceptance of others; they seem to
Moving Diligent have an intense desire to feel well-liked, accepted, involved, and appreciated. They are loyal,
Towards Dutiful perfectionistic, and tend to seek out excessive guidance and approval from others, possibly
earning the reputation of a “follower” who is reluctant to take independent action.
Learning
NA Bold (knowledgeable know it all)
Approach
6
Preparing for Feedback: MVPI
Keep the following tips in mind when reviewing the participant’s MVPI results:
Contrast the MVPI with the HPI & HDS. While the HPI & HDS provide insight regarding the participant’s reputation (how
others likely describe him or her), the MVPI comes closest to providing insight regarding “the person he/she wants to be.”
Specifically, the MVPI provides insight regarding (a) what the participant values and appreciates, (b) the type of workplace
he/she will find most motivating, (c) the type of environment he/she likely will try to cultivate in a leadership role (what he
or she likely will reward others for doing), and (d) how to best reward his or her performance.
Note that almost all participants have high, average, and low MVPI scores. These scores should be interpreted as follows:
− High scores indicate “key drivers” that the participant likely actively seeks out.
− Average scores indicate “nice to haves” that the participant likely appreciates, but does not consider “deal
breakers.”
− Low scores indicate “things to which the participant is indifferent to, but not demotivated by.”
The participant’s Hogan results work together and can be interpreted in the following manner:
- The MVPI provides insight regarding what the participant likely is striving to attain (e.g., Power – leadership authority)
- The HPI provides insight regarding characteristics that likely will help the participant satisfy his/her needs
(e.g., Ambition – confidence & initiative).
- The HDS provides insight regarding characteristics and tendencies that likely will impede the participant’s ability to
satisfy his/her needs (e.g., Dutiful – consensus-seeking tendencies).
Gaps between the participant’s “wants” and “desires” and approach present coachable opportunities. For example, if an
individual scores high on Power but low on Ambition, one should ask, “what behaviors can you demonstrate to others that
suggest you are motivated by opportunities to enhance your level of responsibility?”