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 SIP 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 SIP in their work should emphasize to their clients the value of realistic answers for their own self-understanding and personal development.
