We created the Purpose Perception Test (TAP) in response to a growing need among teenagers and young people: the lack of a clear sense of purpose and direction in life. In an educational context that emphasizes performance but often overlooks existential meaning, TAP emerges as a psychometric tool that allows students to identify, reflect on, and deepen their Life Project. This innovation is driven by the belief that self-knowledge, purpose, and social responsibility are essential skills for human flourishing.
In practice, the TAP (Purpose Perception Test) is administered digitally through a questionnaire that explores the affective and cognitive meanings as well as the consequences of purpose aperception. The collected data are organized into six levels of complexity, based on categories grounded in academic research conducted by the test’s creators. Each student receives a personalized report with accessible explanations, key strengths, challenges, and a formative action plan. Simultaneously, the school receives an institutional report containing graphs, indicators, and pedagogical recommendations. This enables the implementation of learning sequences, dialogue circles, and targeted interventions to help students deepen the complexity of their life projects. TAP has been used in school networks and research groups, demonstrating strong applicability and practical impact. It transforms the concept of "Life Project" from a generic discourse into a tool for analysis, active listening, and effective pedagogical action.
TAP began to be implemented in Brazil in 2022, initially within Mackenzie school networks, reaching thousands of students in lower and upper secondary education. Since then, it has expanded through teacher training programs, academic conferences, scientific publications, and educational innovation awards. Its methodology has drawn the attention of school leaders, teachers, and researchers seeking more effective strategies to address students' life projects. In 2023, TAP was recognized as an educational innovation at the National Educational Management Award (GEDUC), and by 2024, it became part of institutional socio-emotional monitoring initiatives in various schools across the country. Its clear structure and precise results make it highly replicable in different contexts, enabling other schools and institutions to apply the instrument with ease. Its expansion has been organic and sustainable, driven by research, teacher training, and the pedagogical use of meaningful student data.
Since its creation, TAP has undergone significant improvements. Initially developed as a qualitative test, it has been methodologically refined through psychometric validation and statistical analysis of collected data. Descriptive rubrics were created for each of the six complexity stages, along with personalized reports that translate results into accessible language for students. Additionally, pedagogical sequences were developed to support educators in guiding students to deepen their life projects. In 2024, TAP launched its own digital platform, automating the test process, generating real-time indicators, and providing customized reports for schools, networks, and researchers. Based on institutional feedback, new visual resources, self-reflection fields, and tailored pedagogical recommendations were added—making the tool even more effective and responsive to educational contexts.
To apply the TAP (Purpose Apperception Test), the first step is to contact the project team via email: gabriel.neres@mackenzie.br. After that, an introductory meeting can be scheduled to understand the theoretical foundations, the structure of the instrument, and its pedagogical applications. The team will provide guidance on how to apply the test safely and efficiently, as well as grant access to the digital tool that automatically organizes the results and generates personalized reports for students and institutions. Training sessions for teachers and school leaders are also available, along with support materials for pedagogical mediation. TAP is free for public institutions and can be adapted to different educational contexts, with ongoing support from the development and research team.
