The PAIRIN Survey

Click the links below to jump to a specific question:

• PAIRIN Survey Overview
• How long does the PAIRIN survey take?
• Survey Languages and Assistance
• What are best practices for taking the PAIRIN survey?
• What are best practices for administering the PAIRIN survey with users who will be surveying on their phone?
• How do I check if a survey is valid?
• What should I do if a survey has a validity alert?
• Resources for surveying
• Email templates for sending surveys

PAIRIN Survey Overview

What is The PAIRIN Survey?
A self-report instrument that provides comprehensive results on soft skills and mindsets, The PAIRIN Survey measures the most critical indicators of long-term job success. Knowing the traditional measures such as grade point average, level of education and special skills are not adequate predictors of an individual’s capacity for succeeding in a role, the survey provides scores that map to targeted ranges for specified jobs. This provides a reliable prediction of a respondent’s likelihood of successful job performance.

How was the survey developed?
The PAIRIN Survey is based on the Gough Adjective Checklist, which has been used in psychological research since 1949. Over the past 17 years, PAIRIN psychologists have successfully replicated all major noncognitive measures.

How was the survey designed?
The PAIRIN Survey is designed to give the most accurate results and incorporates the following two features.

• Low Fake-ability: PAIRIN is resistant to socially desirable responding. Our algorithms are complex and varied, with the average attribute being comprised of forty-three adjective scores. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to "game" the survey.
• Low Reference Bias: All attributes are answered on a binary scale (yes or no) instead of a Likert scale (rating 1-5 or other range). This results in a low reference bias for each adjective. Each individual's idea of what "responsible" or "hard-working" is going to be different if on a sliding scale, but that variance is much reduced if the question is instead "Are you responsible, yes or no?".

What does the survey measure?
Measuring over 100 attributes related to personal and professional soft skills, including attributes such as initiative, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, productivity, grit and interpersonal skills.

How is the survey administered?
The PAIRIN Survey can be taken proctored or unproctored from any location with Internet access and is available on any device including desktops, tablets and mobile. For accessibility, audio and definitions are available, and the survey is available in seven different languages.

Are there different versions of the PAIRIN Survey?
The PAIRIN Survey is always a 300 word adjective checklist, we do have two different ways the survey is administered:list and card. Our customers can select which version they would like to administer based on their population. The list version is recommended for adult populations and takes 8 minutes on average to complete. The card version is recommended for youth and more at-risk populations, it takes 18 minutes on average to complete. 

How long does the PAIRIN survey take?

It depends on which version of the PAIRIN Survey your account is set up with. The "List" version takes on average 8 minutes whereas the "Card" version takes between 15 and 20 minutes. 

Survey Languages and Assistance

The PAIRIN Survey is a 300-word adjective checklist that has audio and definitions throughout the experience. The surveyor can select their preferred language, we currently have the survey in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, and Thai. 

What are best practices for taking the PAIRIN survey?

You may not be able to be with your survey takers physically to support them, but you can provide them some best practices to guide them through the survey process and make it as though you are right there beside them :)

What the PAIRIN survey is - things to note:

• The survey is a tool that will help us celebrate your strengths and develop you to where you want to be.
• Everything the survey measures is coachable and changeable!
• Check out this video for an overview of the the survey
• Provide this info sheet for more on how the PAIRIN survey was developed and what it measures

Setting the stage for the PAIRIN survey - discussion/journal options:

• Tap into their curiosity: Use the PAIRIN top quality icons to spark their curiosity
  • Show the possible Driver powerpoint
  • Ask them which one they think they are
  • If they want to find out, take the survey
  • PAIRIN can also provide you with icon stickers if you are interested
• Discussion or journal about what makes them unique
  • What makes you unique? What are three skills you possess that have helped get you to this point in your life? Want to find out your top qualities that help you? Take the PAIRIN Survey
• Discussion or journal about future career
  • What do you want to be when you grow up? What skills do you think are most important to that career path?  Do you want to know what skills you already have for your dream job and what you can work on? What career fields do your current skills match to?

How to take the PAIRIN survey - best practices:

• Allow 20-30 minutes to complete the survey
• Select the adjectives that describe the way you usually are, most of the time, in a work/school environment
• Select at least 20 adjectives
• Each adjective has audio and a definition for you to use
• For greater insight into how you would like to grow, fill out the second half of the survey

What can I do after the PAIRIN survey - ways to learn about my results:

• Visit your PAIRIN Personal - check out this video to learn more
• Explore your top qualities report 

What are best practices for administering the PAIRIN survey with users who will be surveying on their phone?

The PAIRIN survey is flexible, and can be taken on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Below are some helpful tips if your users will be taking the survey on their phone. Check out the above question for tips on administering the survey in general.

Survey configuration

The PAIRIN survey can display adjectives in two ways: a list of all adjectives at once or the adjectives presented one at a time. We have found the second option to be more user-friendly to those on their phones. With the adjectives presented individually, users will swipe right or left to select those they identify with.

Sending the survey invitation

If you are currently sending survey links to individuals for them to survey, you can continue to do so regardless of if that person will be surveying on a computer or phone. If you know they will be surveying on their phone, consider texting them the link. This can be much easier for users than having to open an email app to find the link.

Another option is to invite them to survey using the token method (you can also do this through text). In this method, you would create the user in PAIRIN Pro, and then provide them the link pairin.com/start and their token. Their token is found next to their name on the Manage>People page of PAIRIN Pro. The individual will follow the link, enter their last name and token, and be taken directly into the survey.

How do I check if a survey is valid?

We automatically do that for you! When a survey is invalid, there will be an alert sign (triangle with an exclamation point in it) next to the name of the individual with the invalid survey. We have eight validity checks automatically built in, including potential random answering, potentially too negative, and too few adjectives checked. Hover over the alert sign to see which validity check(s) were triggered and a percentage of how valid the survey is.

What should I do if a survey has a validity alert?

The PAIRIN survey contains 8 internal validity checks. These check for the following items:

1. Too few adjectives were selected—the data is unreliable.
2. Too many adjectives were selected—the data is unreliable.
3. Few adjectives were selected—the data may be unreliable.
4. Many adjectives were selected—the data may be unreliable.
5. An erratic pattern of adjective selection, possible fabrication—the data may be unreliable.
6. Probable random answering.
7. Potential random answering.
8. Potentially too negative.

A validity warning will appear in the system using the icon of an exclamation point within a triangle. When survey data has a validity alert, you will want to explore more with the individual in question. Asking questions about their survey taking attitude and general mindset can often lead to the answer. After discussing, the individual can retake the survey.

 

Resources for surveying

Resources Available to Send to Individuals

• PAIRIN Survey Video
  • This video explains who PAIRIN is and it overviews the survey process so individuals can understand more about what the survey measures.
• PAIRIN Survey Info Sheet
  • Use this doc to explain more about how The PAIRIN Survey was developed and what it measures.
• Understanding Your PAIRIN Personal Results Video
  • This video explains the PAIRIN Personal dashboard, a tool that each individual will have access to once they finish the survey.

Process

Determine how to survey

1. Link:  If you have not added individuals into your system, you can provide a direct link for individuals to be able to survey and be added to your account.
2. Email Invite: A survey invite can be emailed directly to an individual.
3. Token: If individuals have been added to your “People” tab, but you don’t want to send direct survey invite via email, you can generate a survey token. This is often the best method for proctored survey taking. The individual will go to pairin.com/start, enter their last name and token to survey.

Set the Stage

Prior to taking the survey, your participants need to understand ‘what’s in it for them’, in other words why should they take the survey seriously.  Please take some time to lead a discussion and set the stage. Here are a few options:

1. Tap into their curiosity: Use the PAIRIN top quality icons to spark their curiosity
1. Show the possible Driver powerpoint
2. Ask them which one they think they are
3. If they want to find out, take the survey
4. PAIRIN is also willing to provide you with icon stickers if you are interested
2. Discussion or journal about what makes them unique
1. What makes you unique? What are three skills you possess that have helped get you to this point in your life? Want to find out your top qualities that help you? Take the PAIRIN Survey
3. Discussion or journal about future career
1. What do you want to be when you grow up? What skills do you think are most important to that career path?  Do you want to know what skills you already have for your dream job and what you can work on? What career fields do your current skills match to?

 Set Expectations

Communicate what they should expect

1. Select the adjectives that represent the "usual" YOU.
2. Review your selections in the left column and update the right column to reflect how you'd prefer to be in an ideal world.

1. Survey will take them 25 to 35 minutes
2. Two parts to the survey
3. At the end you will get your very own PAIRIN Personal account with your four top qualities and a place where you can explore how you match to different career paths.

Survey

• If using token: direct students to go to pairin.com/start, enter their last name and token to survey.
• If sending email invites or link: Sample Invite Copy is below 

Accessing PAIRIN Personal

• Visiting: https://app.pairin.com
• Enter your email
• Enter your password if you remember it. If you do not remember your password, don’t be shy and please click forgot password.
• Checking your school email for an email from PAIRIN with a temporary password  - NOREPLY IS THE SENDER
• Your new password must contain 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, and 1 number in order to be reset
• Once your password is reset it will ask you if you'd like to view your results or do another survey. DO NOT do another survey.

Reflect on PAIRIN Personal Results

• PAIRIN Personal 1 Reflection
• PAIRIN Personal 2 Reflection

Email templates for sending surveys

Workforce individuals

Dear _____,

We live in a changing world where 80% of jobs that will exist in 2025 do not exist today. We have partnered with PAIRIN to help prepare you for this ever changing world.

PAIRIN is a tool that gives you insight into 102 skills ranging from citizenship to empathy to self confidence. The results from your survey will help you to identify some of your strengths and potential areas for growth.

Results will not be posted anywhere or shared with anyone but adults within this school.

To access the survey please click this _______ link.

In the first part of the survey, select the adjectives that represent the "usual" YOU. Relax, answer honestly and describe the way you are most of the time. Your choices won't be visible to anyone.

In the second part of the survey, review your selections in the left column and update the right column to reflect how you'd prefer to be in an ideal world.

Once you completed the survey you will be redirected to something called PAIRIN Personal where you will enter a password and be able to see your four top qualities. In addition, you will receive an email from PAIRIN with directions of how you can log back into your PAIRIN Personal account.

You have 3 days to complete the survey.

Enjoy learning more about yourself!

Thanks,

__________

Coaching Participants

Dear _________, 

Hello! Here is your invitation to take the PAIRIN Survey. This self-report instrument gives a comprehensive picture of people's strengths in essential skills like leadership and teamwork. Taking the survey is pretty straightforward and uses a simple word list. It usually takes 15-20 minutes, but please ensure you do not rush and that you "opt-in" to PART 2 (it says this is optional).

Select every word describing how you usually are (current you) in the first part. In the second part, describe your ideal—how you would like to be (future you).

Answer honestly for the most accurate results. Your choices won't be visible to anyone. You'll get access to an online snapshot of your Top Qualities when you have finished.

When you're ready to survey, use the link: ______

Thanks,

________

Employees

Dear _____,

We have partnered with PAIRIN to help us do a pre-employment survey on our candidates.

As part of this process, we are asking all of our employees to complete the survey themselves. It is a very quick process (around 15 minutes) where you select adjectives that describe you.

The reason we are asking you to do this is because we are looking to see the dynamics of each team.  We’d like to compare the results with the candidates that we are bringing in for our open positions. The results of this assessment have no reflection whatsoever on your position or role within the company.  They are solely being used during our interview process to help assess how each candidate would fit into the team structure.

Results will not be posted anywhere or shared with anyone outside of the management teams.

To access the survey please click this _______ link.

In the first part of the survey, select the adjectives that represent the “usual” YOU. Relax, answer honestly and describe the way you are most of the time. Your choices won’t be visible to anyone.

In the second part of the survey, review your selections in the left column and update the right column to reflect how you’d prefer to be in an ideal world.

Once you completed the survey you will be redirected to something called PAIRIN Personal where you will enter a password and be able to see your four top qualities. In addition, you will receive an email from PAIRIN with directions of how you can log back into your PAIRIN Personal account.

You have 3 days to complete the survey.

Enjoy learning more about yourself!

Thanks,

__________

Applicants

Dear___________ ,

Thank you for applying to __________ . Part of our application process is to complete the PAIRIN Soft Skills Survey. The survey should take you less than 15 minutes.

In the first part of the survey, select the adjectives that represent the “usual” YOU. Relax, answer honestly and describe the way you are most of the time. Your choices won’t be visible to anyone.

In the second part of the survey, review your selections in the left column and update the right column to reflect how you’d prefer to be in an ideal world.

If you can’t finish in one sitting, feel free to come back within 24 hours.

Please click here to get started:

Job Posting:

Thank you for your interest in ________ position. To apply, please take the PAIRIN Survey here ____________ and upload your resume.  The survey should take you less than 15 minutes.