A study of the personality attributes of applicants for postgraduate social work training to a Northern Ireland University

The study investigated the potential for the introduction of a personality measure as a method of selection for social work training. As a first step, a personality test, the NEO-PI-R, was administered to two cohorts of applicants to postgraduate social work training. The personality profile of the group who were selected by interview was compared with the group who were not selected at interview. A significant difference was reported: successful candidates were more open in terms of feelings, actions and values. This result establishes that interviewing is differentiating between candidates in terms of the personality dimension of openness. It would be assumed that openness is a necessary and appropriate quality for trainee social workers to possess. However, given that the nature of social work has now changed substantially, we are no longer certain that openness is a central requirement.