1.6 DATA
The data section identifies preferences, motivations and priorities for certain kinds of mental activities. If interests and preferences are primarily intellectual, academic, scholarly, scientific, mathematical, or professional, this may be the most important section of the Worker Trait Code System for the person appraised. If his/her preferences are not primarily mental, this section may have little value. If these factors are important for this profile, then factors in the reasoning, math, and language sections will also be both relevant and important.
“Synthesize: putting two or more things together to form a whole; the combination of separate elements of thought into a whole; the operation by which divided parts are united” (Webster). Robert is motivated by seeing the big picture so much so that (s)he, attempts to see all parts of the picture in that larger context, then sees all parts relative to each other, but still within that larger context. Perception and thinking are therefore holistic and conceptual. Philosophical and intuitive processes are involved. Scientific, managerial, and/or literary preferences may also be involved. Other mental factors in this section are subordinate, secondary, or complementary to this primary motivational attribute. This is an overview and scanning activity that includes ideas, concepts, theory, fiction, hypothesis and assessment. (Note that words in the last sentence are unrelated to logic that Webster defines as “the science of the operations of the understanding subservient to the estimation of evidence.”) For Robert, preferences for this sort of synthesis will allow it to get no further toward logic than estimating.
Preferences that direct mental activity for Robert are naturally curious, inquisitive, investigative, exploratory, analytical, and experimental. Words such as “if” and “why” are central to this trait. It is a factor that fits exactly between synthesizing and comparing, with emphasis on synthesizing. Analysis is more than seeing the big picture, or seeing how the pieces fit the big picture. The motivation to engage an activity or process comes from nonlinear speculating about new forms, possibilities, relations, and fits. In other words, it tends to be an executive function dedicated to possibilities.
Compiling means more than simply gathering large volumes of data sheets and stuffing them in a filing cabinet. It means that Robert is motivated to find, identify, classify, store, remember, and retrieve what is important or what might be important for future use. (NOTE: This is crucial for researchers, technical writers, lawyers, academic teachers, consultants, systems engineers, and programmers). This trait indicates a subconscious preference we could refer to as a “packrat” orientation, i.e., if it glitters; stuff it in the nest along with everything else because it might be useful sometime. Other traits will indicate how motivated the individual is to be thorough, practical, and efficient within this trait.
Robert is highly motivated when given the task of identifying factors that are important for vocational use. This trait, comparing includes: 1) awareness of the context (big picture) in which the factor or factors would or could fit; 2) relationship of the factors to other factors within that larger context; 3) new possibilities of linkage or relationships of factors to the big picture; and/or 4) new possibilities of linkage or relationships of factors with factors in a new context. (NOTE: This is an important trait for research, technical activities, systems engineering, operations management, and administrative activity). Many trait combinations can be involved in this activity: scientific, literary, tangible problem solving, visual-artistic, philosophical, and managerial. It is important to identify which of those traits are involved in Robert’s perceptual/mental preferences.
Copy activity involves detail and routine, which is preferred by Robert and includes reproducing images, information, etc. by machine operation and/or graphic design and layout. (NOTE: It is an asset for database management, computer publishing activity, administrative or library work, and/or warehouse processing).
Robert is motivated to a degree for handling and solving routine, factual, mathematical problems. This set of preferences holds value in operational, technical, processing, or administrative activities. (NOTE: When interacting with other traits, as it does here, this trait has vocational value in many areas).
Robert is motivated to coordinate (i.e., manage, manipulate, administer, etc.) that which is at hand to achieve planned, known or strategic objectives. This means that Robert prefers to do something functional, directional, and goal-oriented with thinking processes, decisions, and actions. When and how Robert coordinates can be determined by reviewing other traits.