Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for a personality assessment technique that involves categorizing individuals. Let's look at the options:
Interview: A conversation to gather information. It doesn't inherently categorize people.
Behavioural rating: A method where an observer rates an individual's behaviour on a scale (e.g., from 1 to 5). It measures the degree of a trait, rather than placing someone in a rigid category.
Nomination: A sociometric technique where members of a group are asked to choose or "nominate" other members who best fit a particular criterion (e.g., "Who is the most cooperative?"). This process directly puts individuals into categories based on peer perception.
Situational test: Involves observing an individual's behaviour in a created situation to see how they respond. It assesses behaviour, but doesn't primarily aim to categorize the person.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The key phrase in the question is "puts individuals into certain categories". The nomination technique is explicitly designed for this purpose. For instance, in a classroom, a teacher might ask students to nominate three classmates they would most like to work with on a project. The results would categorize students based on their perceived desirability as partners.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The technique that puts individuals into categories based on behavioural qualities is Nomination.