Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you still have a question, call us at (650) 322-6300 or use our contact form.
- What is a Manual/Sampler Set?
- What is a License to Reproduce/Administer?
- Is the Manual/Sampler Set included with the License to Reproduce/Administer? No, they must be purchased separately.
- Is a Manual/Sampler Set the same as a Manual?
- How do I create a multi-rater campaign using Mind Garden's new Transform system?
- Does Mind Garden's new Transform system work with all web browsers?
- What is your Copyright Policy?
- Can I get a student or academic Discount?
- Do you require qualifications before I buy an instrument or manual?
- How much are shipping charges?
- How can I save time and money in obtaining your products?
- Can I return a pdf document?
- Can I use a Mind Garden instrument with an outside data collection service?
- Do I need a Manual for this instrument?
- Do I need both a Manual/Sampler Set and a License to Reproduce/Administer?
ˆBack to top - I want to put the instrument in the Appendix of my Dissertation or Thesis.
- How do I order more than 500 copies?
- Can I Translate an instrument?
- Which Translations of this instrument do you have?
- Can I Alter an Instrument?
- What if I don't use all the copies in the year of the reproduction terms?
- Can I get Paper Copies of instruments?
- What are Test Booklets?
- What is a Key?
- How do I calculate a T-score?
- Why not use just the Self form of the MLQ? Why are the ratings of others important?
- How can I determine Cutoffs for someone being a Transformational Leader?
- When setting up raters for the MLQ 360 Leaders' Report, what are the guidelines for selecting raters?
- How do I handle missing values for a Social Climate Scale?
- How can I publish my assessment with Mind Garden?
- What is a product code?
- Where can I find humor on this website?
- What is your Vendor Federal ID Number? #77-0380245
Is a Manual/Sampler set the same as a manual?
Yes, we call it a Manual/Sampler set because it includes samples of the instrument and scoring but this is basically the manual.
What is your Copyright Policy?
Mind Garden policies about permission to reproduce in publications and other issues related to copyright are listed on the copyright page.
Do you require qualifications before I buy an instrument or manual?
Mind Garden believes in responsible test use. However, we also care deeply about providing information about psychological assessments and we avoid making people "jump through hoops" to purchase and use our products. Thus, almost all of our products used for assessment are without qualification restrictions. You can review our description of good test use.
How can I save time and money?
Save Time: By ordering the PDF version of products (where available), you will be invited via email to login to retrieve your document shortly after ordering (barring any technical problems).
Save Money: There is no charge for shipping and handling on PDF products. (Note that regardless of whether you order the PDF or paper reproduction license, you will receive ONE copy with license to reproduce the purchased number. )
Can I get a student or academic discount?
Our products are deliberately priced at a reasonable level for the academic environment, and so we do not offer additional student discounts. We do, however, offer substantial discounts on purchases of large quantities (see price list for each product for specific prices), of which any customer may take advantage.
Does Mind Garden's new Transform system work with all web browsers?
If your computer uses Internet Explorer version 6 (IE6), you may have difficulty while accessing or using Mind Garden’s Transform (or any other online survey website).
- How to discover which web browser you are using:
1. Open the web browser
2. Pull down the Help menu at the top
3. Select "About Internet Explorer"
4. Check the version -- if it begins with a 6, you will have difficulty with almost any current online survey. - Possible Solutions:
• Upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 or later, which is free over the internet (check with your IT person first)
• OR, install or use another web browser such as FireFox, Safari or Chrome
• OR, access the survey from another computer at work or at home that does not use IE 6.
Do I need a manual for this instrument?
We highly recommend purchase of the Manual/Sampler set with every instrument. Most manuals contain a non-reproducible copy of the instrument along with an explanation of the instrument, administration, scoring and interpretation, validity, reliability and, very important, normative information. Thus, to fully use an instrument, order both the Manual/Sampler set and License to Reproduce/Administer. It is easiest and least expensive to order the PDF version of the Manual/Sampler set and instrument online with a credit card (avoid shipping charges). You will receive an invitation to login, and then view and print out pages as needed.
Which Translations of this instrument do you have?
A list of translated instruments can be found on our translations index page.
What if I don't use all the copies in the year of the License to Reproduce/Administer?
Since it is a license, it needs to be for a limited
term. We suggest you reproduce the purchased number
before the expiration of your License to Reproduce/Administer.
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Can I get paper copies of instruments rather than via the duplication?
Mind Garden does not provide duplication services except for products where it is specifically stated such as the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT).
What are test booklets?
"Test booklets" is a reference to the method of providing an instrument in a paper format.
What is a key?
"Key" is the term for the information about how to score the instrument. Also called the Scoring Key.
How do I calculate a T-score?
You can calculate a T-score using the mean and standard deviation of the reference normative population in the test manual. Use the formula T = 50 + (10*(raw score - mean))/standard deviation where raw score is the score for that person on the scale, mean is the mean for that reference norm, and standard deviation is the standard deviation for that reference norm.
ˆBack to topWhy not use just the self form of the MLQ? Why are the ratings of others important?
There are many reasons, but here are the ones that are perhaps most important to consider:
- Leaders can have unique relationships with peers, followers and other leaders, thus the ratings will differ as a consequence of how unique these relationships are with their constituency.
- Related to point 1, since leadership is in the 'eye of the beholder', why would you want to collect data from only the 'self beholder'.
- There is considerable evidence indicating that self and other ratings often times do not agree, for reasons mentioned above.
- The choice of which rater source to use, should be tied to the research question. If you are interested in how leaders think about their own leadership, then just collect self. In every other instance, why would you not collect another source?
- In sum, the self form does not measure actual leadership but only the perception of leadership.
This is an important question so to expand this, at core, leadership is in the eye of the beholder. Thus, to the degree that one has only one source, the validity of that source is in question. This is true of every instrument, including personality. Thus, if a leader has 10 followers and you just get a rating from one, likely that rating will not represent all 9 other views -- especially if that rater has worked for the leader for one month or less. If we get ratings from peers, that may not generalize to followers. If we get ratings from the leader him or herself, the question one has to answer is how representative are those ratings of all other sources. If your interest is how to change the self perceptions of a leader, then measuring self ratings is appropriate. If the goal is to measure leadership then measuring rater perception of the leader is the most appropriate.
"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none." —Thomas Carlyle (1888)
How can I determine cutoffs for someone being a Transformational Leader?
In most instances, we do not recommend using cutoffs. Why? It limits
the information you have on the leader. The MLQ measures leadership behaviors,
and their frequency of occurrence. Consequently, when we discuss tranformational
leadership, we are discussing it in terms of degree or frequency of occurrence.
Categorizing leaders into groupings limits information from both a practical
and a statistical point of view.
If for some reason one has to categorize, then use the percentile charts
and pick leaders say on all 4 I's that exceed the 90th percentile as
being more transformational. If you want them to not be
transactional, then pick leaders who fall above the 90th percentile on
transformational components and below 50th percentile on Contingent Reward,
Management by Exception Active & Passive and Laissez-faire.
When setting up the MLQ 360 Leader's Report, what are the guidelines for selecting raters?
Following are suggestions for selecting your raters:
- Please use accurate email addresses so that the invitations can be successfully delivered.
- Ideally you should select between 8 and 12 raters to provide feedback to you. Please use
the following guidelines to choose raters:
A) One rater should be at a higher level than you in your organization; optimally this is your boss/manager.
B) Three or more raters should be people at a lower level (Below) in your organization than you, optimally those who report to you.
C) Some raters should be those at your organizational level (Peer) who have observed your leadership behavior.
D) If you still do not have 8 to 12 names, you may use Others who have observed your leadership behavior, even outside your current organization.
How do I handle missing values for a Social Climate Scale?
Using the Family Environment Scale (FES) of the Social Climate Scales as an example, if more than half of the nine (that is, five or more) items on any one of the subscales is missing, then the score for that subscale is considered missing. If a respondent misses one item on subscale then an initial score is obtained for that subscale and multiplied by 9/8ths to obtain the final score. If two items are missing on a subscale, then the initial score is multiplied by 9/7ths to obtain the final score. For three missing items, multiply by 9/6ths, and for four missing items, multiply by 9/5ths. In essence, when fewer than half of the items on a subscale are missing, this procedure will obtain FES subscale scores that are "comparable" to the regular 9-item subscale scores.
ˆBack to topHow can I publish my assessment with Mind Garden?
If you have developed a psychological assessment, please feel free to contact Mind Garden about distributing and/or publishing your assessment or workbook. Contact us by clicking here or 650 322-6300.
What is a product code?
The product code is the five or more letters to the left of the product description (e.g. for "WAYSS Sampler Set" the product codes is "WAYSS" and the product, in this case, is the Sampler Set for the Ways of Coping Questionnaire).
If you still have a question, just phone us at (650) 322-6300 or use our contact form here.