Chapter 1 Tools of Psychological Assessment

Psychological Testing and Assessment The Test

• A psychological test is a device or

procedure designed to measure
Testing and Assessment Defined
variables related to psychology (e.g.
Testing: The process of measuring psychology- intelligence, attitudes, personality,
related variables by means of devices or interests, etc.).
procedures designed to obtain a sample of
• Psychological tests vary by content,
behavior.
format, administration, scoring,
Assessment: The gathering and integration of interpretation, and technical quality
psychology-related data for the purpose of
making a psychological evaluation through tools
such as tests, interviews, case studies, Psychological Tests
behavioral observation, and other methods.
Content: The subject matter of the test. Content
depends on the theoretical orientation of test
developers and the unique way in which they
Testing and Assessment
define the construct of interest.
The objective of testing is typically to obtain
Format: The form, plan, structure, layout of test
some gauge, usually numerical in nature, with
items, and other considerations (e.g. time
regard to an ability or tribute.
limits).
The objective of assessment is typically to
Administration: Tests may require certain tasks
answer a referral question, solve a problem or
to be performed, trained observation of
arrive at a decision through the tools of
performance, or little involvement by the test
evaluation.
administrators (e.g. self-report questionnaires).
Collaborative Psychological Assessment: The
Scoring and Interpretation: Scoring of tests
assessor and assessee work as partners.
may be simple, such as summing responses to
Therapeutic Psychological Assessment: items, or may require more elaborate
Therapeutic self-discovery is encouraged procedures.
through the assessment process.
• Some tests results can be interpreted
easily, or interpreted by computer,
whereas other tests require expertise
Assessment for proper interpretation.
Dynamic Assessment Cut Score: A reference point, usually numerical,
Dynamic assessment is typically employed in used to divide data into two or more
educational settings but also may be used in classifications (e.g. pass or fail).
correctional, corporate, neuropsychological,
clinical, and other settings
Technical Quality or Psychometric Soundness: related to test construction and
Psychometrics is the science of psychological evaluation, test administration and use,
measurement. The psychometric soundness of a special applications of tests and
test depends on how consistently and considerations for linguistic minorities.
accurately the test measures what it purports to
The test user – Tests are used by a wide range
measure.
of professionals
• Test users are sometimes referred to as
• The Standards contains guidelines for
psychometrists or psychometricians.
who should be administering
psychological tests but many countries
have no ethical or legal guidelines for
The Interview
test use
The interview is a method of gathering
The test-taker – Anyone who is the
information through direct communication
subject of an assessment or evaluation is a test-
involving reciprocal exchange.
taker.

Test-takers may differ on a number of variables

Other Tools of Psychological Assessment at the time of testing (e.g. test anxiety,
emotional distress, physical discomfort,
 The Portfolio: A file containing the alertness, etc.)
products of one’s work. May serve as a
sample of one’s abilities and Society at large – Test developers create tests to
accomplishments meet the needs of an evolving society.
 Case History Data: Information
• Laws and court decisions may play a
preserved in records, transcripts, or
major role in test development,
other forms.
administration, and interpretation.
 Behavioral Observation: Monitoring the
actions of people through visual or Other parties - Organizations,
electronic means companies, and governmental agencies sponsor
 Role-Play Tests: Assessees are directed the development of tests.
to act as if they were in a particular
• Companies may offer test scoring and
situation. Useful in evaluating various
interpretation
skills.
 Computers as Tools: Computers can • Researchers may review tests and
assist in test administration, scoring, evaluate their psychometric soundness
and interpretation.

Educational settings:
The test developer – tests are created for
• Students typically undergo school ability
research studies, publication (as commercially
tests and achievement tests.
available instruments), or as modifications of
existing tests. • Diagnostic tests may be used to identify
areas for educational intervention .
• The Standards for Educational and
Psychological Testing covers issues
Clinical settings: Includes hospitals, inpatient • Test catalogues - catalogues
and outpatient clinics, private-practice distributed by publishers of
consulting rooms, schools, and other tests. Usually brief, and un-
institutions. critical, descriptions of tests.

• Assessment tools are used to help • Test manuals - Detailed

screen for or diagnose behavior information concerning the
problems. development of a particular test
and technical information.
Counseling settings: Includes schools, prisons,
and governmental or privately owned • Reference volumes – reference
institutions. volumes like the Mental
Measurements Yearbook or
• The goal of assessments in this setting
Tests in Print provide detailed
is improvements in adjustment,
information on many tests.
productivity, or related variable.
• Journal articles - contain
• Geriatric settings: Assessment primarily
reviews of a test, updated or
evaluates cognitive, psychological,
independent studies of its
adaptive, or other functioning. At issue
psychometric soundness, or
is quality of life.
examples of how the
• Business and military settings: instrument was used in either
Decisions regarding careers of research or an applied context.
personnel are made with a variety of
achievement, aptitude, interest,
motivational, and other tests. Where to go for Information on Tests

• Government and organizational • Online databases - Educational

credentialing: Includes governmental Resources Information Center (ERIC)
licensing, certification, or general contains a wealth of resources and
credentialing of professionals (e.g. news about tests, testing, and
attorneys, physicians, and psychologists) assessment. There are abstracts of
articles, original articles, and links to
other useful websites.
Assessment of People with Disabilities
• The American Psychological Association
• The law mandates “alternate (APA) has a number of databases
assessment” – The definition of this is including PsycINFO, ClinPSYC,
up to states or school districts PsycARTICLES, and PsycSCAN.

• Accommodations need to be made – • Other sources - Directory of

the adaptation of a test, procedure, or Unpublished Experimental Mental
situation, or the substitution of one test Measures and Tests in Microfiche. Also,
for another, to make the assessment university libraries provide access to
more suitable for an assessee with online databases such as PsycINFO and
exceptional needs full-text articles..