Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory (MVPI)
How to Pass the Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory (MVPI)?
Trying to pass the MVPI personality test? The truth is, the MVPI isn’t a pass-or-fail assessment-it’s designed to uncover what truly motivates you in the workplace. It evaluates 10 core values like Power, Recognition, Altruism, and Commerce to help employers understand your cultural fit and long-term potential.
To succeed, be honest but self-aware. Reflect on the values that drive your best performance and align your responses with the role and company culture you’re aiming for. For example, high Affiliation might be ideal for team roles, while high Science suits analytical positions.
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What Is the MVPI?
The MVPI is a scientifically validated assessment that measures a person’s core drivers, including their needs, work preferences, and values. Unlike other personality tools that focus on how someone behaves, the MVPI explains why they behave that way-making it a valuable tool for culture fit, motivation, and retention.
The assessment is grounded in psychological theory and consists of 200 statements, each rated on a scale of agreement. It typically takes 15–20 minutes to complete and results in a profile of 10 core values.
The 10 Core Values Measured by MVPI
Each value reflects a specific set of motivators and preferences that influence a person’s actions and relationships at work:
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| Recognition | Desire for visibility, acknowledgment, and praise. |
| Power | Drive to lead, influence others, and achieve status. |
| Hedonism | Preference for fun, excitement, and pleasure in work. |
| Altruism | Passion for helping others, making a difference, and social responsibility. |
| Affiliation | Need to belong, connect, and build close relationships. |
| Tradition | Respect for rules, hierarchy, and established systems. |
| Security | Preference for structure, stability, and long-term planning. |
| Commerce | Interest in financial gain, business opportunities, and ROI. |
| Aesthetics | Appreciation for creativity, design, and beauty in the workplace. |
| Science | Curiosity about data, analysis, logic, and continuous learning. |
Each individual’s MVPI profile shows how much each of these values drives their behavior and decision-making.
Why Employers Use the MVPI
Understanding what motivates employees is essential for building high-performing teams, improving engagement, and reducing turnover. The MVPI helps employers answer questions like:
Does this person value recognition and status-or quiet, consistent impact?
Will they fit in a fast-moving startup culture or a structured, traditional environment?
Are they motivated by teamwork, profit, creativity, or mission?
Key Uses of the MVPI:
Culture Fit Assessments
Leadership Development and Coaching
Succession Planning
Team Alignment and Conflict Resolution
Career Pathing and Job Design
By aligning personal values with company values, organizations see higher employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention.
How MVPI Results Are Interpreted
MVPI scores are reported in percentiles (0–100) compared to a normative population. There are no right or wrong answers-high or low scores simply reflect preferences.
A high Power score suggests someone who wants to lead and compete.
A low Affiliation score might indicate a preference for independent work over team collaboration.
A high Aesthetics score could signal a creative thinker who values innovation.
Understanding these preferences helps leaders manage teams better and assign roles that energize rather than drain individuals.
How to Prepare for the MVPI
The MVPI is designed to capture your authentic values, so there’s no need to “study.” However, preparation can still be useful:
Tips to Succeed on the MVPI:
Answer honestly – Trying to fake ideal traits may result in inconsistencies.
Know the 10 value areas – Understand what each one means in a workplace context.
Reflect on your real motivators – Think about what energizes or frustrates you at work.
Practice similar assessments – Build familiarity with the structure and tone of questions.
MVPI Sample Questions
MVPI questions typically use a Likert scale format, such as:
Strongly Disagree – Disagree – Neutral – Agree – Strongly Agree
Each item is tied to one of the 10 core values.
Sample Question 1 – Power
“I enjoy taking the lead in group settings and being seen as an authority figure.”
Measures: Power
Scoring Insight:
Strongly Agree: High Power motive – likely to seek leadership and influence
Strongly Disagree: Low Power motive – may prefer collaborative or independent roles
Sample Question 2 – Altruism
“Helping others succeed is more important to me than personal recognition.”
Measures: Altruism
Scoring Insight:
Agree: High Altruism – values compassion and service
Disagree: May prioritize performance or individual goals
Sample Question 3 – Aesthetics
“I work best in environments that are visually appealing and creatively designed.”
Measures: Aesthetics
Scoring Insight:
Agree: High Aesthetics – motivated by creativity and design
Disagree: More practical, less focused on aesthetics in work environment
Sample Question 4 – Commerce
“The financial potential of a role is one of my top considerations.”
Measures: Commerce
Scoring Insight:
Strongly Agree: High Commerce – motivated by profitability and financial growth
Strongly Disagree: Financial reward is less important than other factors
Sample Question 5 – Science
“I enjoy solving problems using logic, data, and objective analysis.”
Measures: Science
Scoring Insight:
Agree: High Science – motivated by data, research, and critical thinking
Disagree: May rely more on intuition or practical experience
MVPI Scoring Overview
After completing the MVPI, each of the 10 value dimensions is scored on a percentile scale (0–100%) compared to a large population sample.
Example Score Report:
| Value | Percentile Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition | 85% | Strong desire for praise, attention, and public approval |
| Power | 70% | Motivated by leadership and achievement |
| Altruism | 92% | Deeply values helping others and making a social impact |
| Affiliation | 60% | Moderately prefers working with others |
| Commerce | 40% | Sees money as helpful, but not the main motivator |
| Aesthetics | 55% | Appreciates design and creativity to a moderate degree |
| Science | 80% | Values logic, evidence, and analysis |
High scores reflect strong personal values and preferences.
Low scores don’t mean “bad”-they simply suggest that area isn’t a primary motivator.
Overview of Hogan Assessment Tests
| Test Name | Purpose | Traits Measured | Format | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPI Hogan Personality Inventory | Measures normal personality and job fit | Adjustment, Ambition, Sociability, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Prudence, Inquisitive, Learning Approach | 206 true/false questions (15–20 min) | Hiring, development, team fit, leadership screening |
| HDS Hogan Development Survey | Identifies derailers and risk factors under stress | 11 derailment traits (e.g., Excitable, Skeptical, Bold, Reserved, Leisurely) | 168 true/false questions (15–20 min) | Leadership development, risk mitigation |
| MVPI Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory | Measures core values, motivators, and cultural fit | 10 values (e.g., Recognition, Power, Hedonism, Altruism, Security) | 200 items (15–20 min) | Culture fit, career planning, team alignment |
| HBRI Hogan Business Reasoning Inventory | Assesses cognitive ability and reasoning | Tactical Reasoning (Numerical), Strategic Reasoning (Verbal) | Multiple choice (25–30 min) | Roles involving analysis, decision-making |
| Judgment Hogan Judgment Assessment | Evaluates decision-making and learning style | Information Processing, Decision-Making Style, Reaction to Feedback | Interactive scenarios | Executive hiring, leadership training |
| Hogan 360° | Multirater leadership feedback | Self and others’ ratings across leadership behaviors | Questionnaire sent to peers/managers | Executive coaching, leadership benchmarking |
FAQ
The MVPI consists of 200 statements where individuals rate their level of agreement on a scale. It typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The results are scored in percentiles for each value area.
No, there are no right or wrong answers or passing scores. MVPI results highlight motivational preferences, and every profile is unique. Employers use it to evaluate cultural fit and long-term compatibility, not to eliminate candidates based on scores alone.
Companies across industries-including tech, finance, government, and healthcare-use the MVPI to:
Improve hiring outcomes
Develop high-potential leaders
Build stronger teams
Enhance employee engagement and retention
You can’t study for the MVPI like a knowledge test, but you can prepare strategically by:
Understanding the 10 value areas
Reflecting on your workplace motivators
Practicing similar question formats
You can take a free practice test inspired by the MVPI at
➡️ https://24practice.com
It’s a great way to explore your workplace motivators and prepare for the real assessment used by top employers.
