SI Profile: FAQ

Must a person have a license, or other certification, to use the SI Profile?

We require that professional users of the SI Profile (consultants, trainers, counselors, coaches, educators, etc.) be certified by Karl Albrecht International to use the instrument. We have made this relatively simple and painless, by means of an On-line Certification Course, posted on our Web site at KarlAlbrecht.com.

How much time does it take, on average, for a person to fill out and score the SI Profile questionnaire booklet?

The majority of people can complete the questionnaire and scoring procedure in 15-20 minutes. A few people may need more time, including some elderly people and people using a version of the profile not in their native language. In some programs, you might be able to have participants complete the profile beforehand. Or, your schedule may make it convenient to call a break after completing the profile and before reviewing the results. In that way, those who need a few extra minutes can keep working while the others begin their break.

The online version of the SI Profile takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. The users receive their scores instantaneously as a Web page transmitted from our server. Then they download a personal workbook which they can use to record and understand their profiles.

How long does it typically take for a workshop leader to explain the basic SI Profile model?

It’s possible to explain the essential elements of the model in just 10-15 minutes. Usually, it is advisable to move right into examples and practical workshop exercises without a great deal of conceptual discussion. Once the participants begin to assimilate the model and its implications, the workshop leader can return to the conceptual discussion and extend the discussion to various related topics.

How valid and reliable is the SI Profile as a measurement tool?

In evaluating measurement tools like the SI Profile, it is important to understand the implications of the terms validity and reliability. To say that an instrument is valid means that it measures what its designers or users claim that it measures. To say that it is reliable means that it gives similar or identical results when it is applied more than once under the same circumstances.

Because the SI Profile is based on a unique conceptual model, it cannot be validated against any known objective standard; therefore, the appropriate measure is what is known as “face validity,” i.e. the extent to which it makes sense “on its face.” Face validity is determined by asking a number of people who have taken the instrument “How well do you believe your profile scores accurately describe your social skills and interaction patterns?”

Reliability is a somewhat more complex issue, because the theoretical proposition behind the SI Profile supposes that a person’s social skills and interaction style are not fixed for all time. Although most people tend to keep approximately the same overall interaction pattern, particularly in terms of the comparative levels of the four primary dimensions, many people report that their profiles may shift over time. With regard to social skills, obviously the objective of the SI Profile is to help people improve their skills over time. For that reason, the best measure of validity and reliability for the SI Profile would be the extent to which people feel it is instrumental in helping them intreract with others more successfully.

How can we be sure that a person will answer the questions on the profile honestly and realistically?

We can’t. Every self-assessment instrument ultimately depends on the willingness of the person filling it out to answer the questions honestly and realistically. This is why instruments like the SI Profile and others work best when administered by an experienced and trained professional practitioner, who can guide and encourage people to approach the experience constructively and interpret their scores realistically.

The instruction page of the profile cautions the user to think carefully about each question, and to “answer as if someone who knows you very well is looking over your shoulder.” Practitioners who use the SI Profile in their work should emphasize to their clients the value of realistic answers for their own self-understanding and personal development.

Is social intelligence a transcultural concept?

We believe that the five key dimensions of social skill – Situational Awareness, Presence, Authenticity, Clarity and Empathy (the “S.P.A.C.E.” formula) may be durable across cultures. However, the specific expression of those skills, as well as accepted behaviors associated with those skills, will certainly vary from one culture to another. In some cultures, for example, openness, candor, and even confrontation are valued; in others, they may be perceived as aggressive and destructive. Further, norms for various kinds of behaviors will certainly vary even within one culture.

We also believe that the SI Profile’s interaction style model – Social Energy and Results Focus – may be durable across cultures. Again, however, it is reasonable to consider that specific behavioral options may be favored over others in a particular culture, even though the conceptual framework of the interaction styles may be portable.

The SI Profile, having originated in a Western, European-oriented business environment, and having been designed primarly for adults in a business setting, inevitably reflects the social viewpoints, values and norms of the West. We make no claims that it might be universal in its constructs, its applicability, or its usefulness.

Users of the SI Profile must ultimately accept responsibility for the choices they make in using the instrument with various populations, and in particular they need to think carefully about how to interpret the results and explain the basic concepts to people with diverse cultural experiences.

Is there a statistical data base of SI profiles?

Not yet. The SI Profile is a relatively recent product, and we will soon begin the process of gathering profiles for a comparative database. As this database accumulates, we will make the results available to Certified Professional Users at the appropriate time.

Is the SI Profile available in other languages besides English?

Not at this time.

Is there an online version of the SI Profile?

Yes. To use the online version, you simply purchase a specified number of password uses, just as if you were purchasing the printed version. You issue the passwords to the people you want to have take the online profile. Each user gets an instant report with their scores. Then they download and print a personal workbook, in which they enter their scores. They bring the workbook to the training session. After that, the procedure is identical to the procedure for the printed version.

It seems like the SI Profile would be ideally suited for a 360-degree, or multi-rater application. Do you plan to offer a version that allows people to get feedback from others?

Depending on the demand, we will probably introduce a multi-rater version, available only to Registered Professional Users. As we foresee it, the professional practitioner will be able to issue passwords to individuals he or she is working with, and they as well as their selected raters will go to the website and fill out the SI Profile questionnaire, each giving his or her perceptions of the person being rated. The practitioner will be able to access the data for the specific individual, and generate online reports of comparative perceptions.

We have not set a target date for the availability of the multi-rater version.

How much does the SI Profile certification cost?

The fee for certification is USD $495. This includes a lifetime license and a set of user materials. There are no renewal fees or other charges. Your license is associated with you, regardless of who pays for it. If your employer pays the certification fee, the license remains with you, even if you leave the organization.

Note: If you are a currently certified user of another KAI profile product, such as Mindex, then you’re eligible for a major concession on the enrollment fee. In lieu of the standard USD $495 enrollment fee, you only need to pay an administrative processing fee of USD $50. When you fill out the enrollment form, you’ll need to provide your ID Code as a certified user.

The order form for the certification course asks for a brief summary of your experience and qualifications in the general field of human development.You’ll also be asked to confirm that you agree to the conditions for ethical use of KAI profile products.

How does a professional user get started using the SI Profile?

Just submit your online application form for certification as a Professional User.

You simply order a license through this site, pay with your credit card, and take the course. You will receive your password by e-mail within a few business days. Most experienced practitioners find they can complete the on-line course in about one to three hours. The course includes an online exam to verify that you’ve mastered the key concepts.

Try including a module on the SI Profile in one of your workshops. Allow about 25 minutes for administering and scoring the profiles, 20 minutes or so to explain and discuss the model and participant profiles, and perhaps 30-60 minutes for an exercise to help participants experience the effects of social intelligence and interaction styles.

After you’ve used the SI Profile a few times, you’ll find yourself thinking of new ways to apply it: personal skills training, supervisor-employee counseling, team building, sales training, coaching, counseling, conflict resolution and a host of other possibilities. Your user password also gives you access to the exclusive SI Profile User’s Area of the KAI website, where you can order profiles and access a wealth of resources you can use in your work with the SI Profile.

I’m ready to sign up – what do I do?

Fill out the order form for the SI Profile Certification Course.