Workplace Ethics Judgement (SJT)

What the SJT measures

Standard "personality tests" fail to measure ethics because users simply fake good responses (e.g., everyone answers "Strongly Disagree" to "I steal from my company"). Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs) solve this by presenting high-fidelity, ambiguous, real-world dilemmas where multiple answers seem plausible. It measures not just moral intent, but moral competence—the ability to work through the grey areas of corporate politics without compromising integrity or alienating the team.

The dimensions it assesses

• Integrity & Whistleblowing: Willingness to report or stop unethical behavior, even at personal or professional risk.
• Conflict Resolution: Ability to handle disputes fairly without resorting to authoritarianism or avoidance.
• Accountability: Willingness to take ownership of mistakes rather than shifting blame to subordinates or circumstances.
• Professional Boundaries: Ability to maintain ethical distance regarding gifts, favoritism, and confidentiality.

What to do with your result

1. The "Blind Obedience" Trap: Some candidates will always choose the option that defers to their boss (e.g., "Ask my manager what to do"). While safe, this indicates a lack of leadership capability. The system must flag candidates who cannot make independent ethical decisions.
2. The Aggressive Whistleblower: Candidates who always choose the most aggressive, punitive option (e.g., firing someone immediately for a minor mistake, reporting a vendor for a small gift) lack emotional intelligence. They enforce rules but destroy team psychological safety. The "Most Effective" answer in SJTs requires balancing ethics with tact.

Common questions about the SJT

What does the SJT measure?

Measurement of ethical decision-making, moral reasoning, and integrity under pressure within professional environments.

Can the SJT diagnose me?

No. Workplace Ethics Judgement (SJT) is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic tool. It can flag that something may need a closer look. It cannot tell you what is causing it. It describes tendencies rather than diagnosing anything, and no result here is a condition or something to fix.

How long does the SJT take?

5 questions, which most people finish in 10 – 15 minutes. There is no time limit, and answering honestly matters more than answering quickly. The results page checks for patterns suggesting the questions were rushed.

Is this SJT test really free?

Yes. No account, no email address, no payment. Psychometrics Today is funded by donations rather than advertising, which is also what allows us to publish instruments whose authors permit free but non-commercial use.

Are my answers stored or shared?

No. Your answers are scored inside your browser and never sent to us. There is no database of responses, because we never receive any. Closing the tab erases them, which is why results cannot be recovered afterwards.

How often should I retake the SJT?

Traits and preferences move slowly, so retaking this every few months is more informative than retaking it often. Larger shifts usually follow a genuine change in circumstances.

Who created the SJT, and is this the real version?

It was published by Psychometrics Today (original scenarios). SJT methodology (Motowidlo et al.) is a published method, not a protected instrument. Scenarios are original. The items here are the published ones rather than a paraphrase, and the scoring follows the original rules. Both are documented on this page so they can be checked.

How accurate is the SJT?

Screening questionnaires are good at flagging that something merits attention and poor at establishing what it is. This one is sensitive to how you feel on the day you take it, and many instruments were validated on narrow populations whose cut-offs may not transfer cleanly to everyone. The references at the foot of this page are the primary sources.