This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Psychometric testing on uk subjects'.

 
 
 
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Annex A 
 
e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.  
gov.uk
 
Our Ref: 2134
 
 

4 June 2013
Annex A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr Reynolds,  
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 8 May 2013.   You asked for:- 
 
 
1/ Why did personality tests go ahead in Essex, despite being given 
     permission to do so? 
      
2/ Who gave the go ahead for Psychometric tests, part of NEURO 
     LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING, to be used on uk citizens? 
      
3/ How would it make people make "better choices"? 
      
4/ Who was the author of the "My Strengths" character survey that 
     was used on claimants? 
      
5/ What relevance were the questions in the survey, other than mind 
     programming? 
      
6/ Who was the civil servant from the "Nudge Team" who approached 
     VIA to use a slimmed down version? 
      
7/ Why was a non validated version used if the test showed it to be 
     a failure? 
      
8/ Show evidence to support that the test was "scientifically shown 
     to show peoples strengths"? 
      
9/ Have complaints of the surveys improper use been lodged with the 
     British Psychological Society and Health and Care Professions 
     Council? 
      
10/ Has there been any feedback from these organisations? 


      
11/ Who are the qualified psychologists that work for the NUDGE 
     UNIT, who signed off the project? 
      
12/ Why were people being deceived and coerced into something that 
     they had no knowledge of? 
      
13/ How much money has the DWP paid to the NUDGE UNIT? 
      
14/ Could the £520.000 per annum cabinet office be seen as a 
     complete waste of time and money given that it is up for sale? 
      
 
We can confirm that this response has been drafted in conjunction with the Behavioural 
Insights Team at the Cabinet Office who were responsible for the piloting of this tool. For any 
technical queries relating to this issue please contact: 
 
Correspondence Team 
70 Whitehall  
London 
SW1A 2AS  
Email xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx  
General enquiries 020 7276 1234  
Firstly, a number of the points which you raise are not asking for information held by the DWP 
but for opinions on issues raised in a newspaper article – questions 2, 3, 5, 8, 12,and 14. The 
Freedom of Information (FoI) Act allows for the providing of recorded information held by the 
DWP. It is not intended as an opportunity to debate issues or provide opinions. Therefore we 
cannot provide a response to these points. 
In response to the remainder of your request please see the following: 
Questions 1 and 6 – the pilot in Essex was a local Jobcentre Plus initiative in conjunction with 
the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office continues to have a good working relationship with the 
VIA institute and the Cabinet Office is continuing to work together with VIA to determine the 
best way to help claimants identify their strengths.  
 
Question 4 - the ‘My Strengths’ exercise comes from the work of Professor Martin Seligman. 
See references below for details.  
 
Question 7 – ‘My Strengths’ is based on a wide area of academic research. This research 
shows that helping people self-identify their strengths can be a useful part of a portfolio of tools 
that help improve wellbeing. The ‘My Strengths’ exercise was adapted from wide academic 
literature to make it easier for UK claimants to use. 
 

Questions 9 and 10 - DWP has not received any complaints or comments from the British 
Psychological Society or the Health and Care Professions Council.  
 
Question 11 - the decisions of the Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team are made by 
members of the team in coordination with their managers. The team has a number of 
psychologists and economists.  
 
Claimants were offered the ‘My Strengths’ exercise with a full explanation of its purpose.  
 
Question 13 - the ‘My Strengths’ incurred zero cost to government. 
Papers used in the development of ‘My Strengths’ include: 
 
Reivich KJ, Seligman MEP, McBride S. Master resilience training in the US Army. American 
Psychologist. 2011;66(1):25. 
Seligman MEP, Steen TA, Park N, Peterson C. Positive psychology progress: empirical 
validation of interventions. American Psychologist. 2005;60(5):410. 
Park N, Peterson C, Seligman MEP. Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social 
and Clinical Psychology. 2004;23(5):603-19. 
Park N, Peterson C, Seligman MEP. Character strengths in fifty-four nations and the fifty US 
states. 2006; 1(3):118-129. 
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number 
above.   
 
Yours sincerely,  
 
DWP | Operations 
 
DWP Central FoI Team 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
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