Lesson 2: Psychological Testing and Assessment Steps in (Clinical) Psychological Assessment Tools of Psychological Assessment

• Testing - A process of measuring psychology-related 1. Deciding what is being assessed • Test

variables by means of devices or procedures designed to 2. Determining the goals pf assessment • Interview
obtain a sample of behavior; specific measurement 3. Selecting standards for making decisions
1. Test
• Assessment – gathering and integration of psychology- 4. Collecting assessment
related data for the purpose of making a psychological 5. Making decisions and judgments • A psychological test is a device or procedure designed to
evaluation though tools such as tests, interviews, case 6. Communicating results measure variables related to psychology (e.g., intelligence,
studies, behavioral observation, and specially designed attitudes, personality, and interests)
Approaches in Psychological Assessment • Psychological tests may vary by content, format, technical
apparatuses and measurement procedures; utilizing
quality, and administration, scoring, and interpretation
different tools • Nomothetic Approach – characterized by efforts to learn
procedures
how a limited number of personality traits can be applied
The objective of testing is typically to obtain some gauge, usually in
to all people Psychological Tests
numerical in nature, with regard to an ability or attribute
• Idiographic Approach – characterized by efforts to learn
• Content – the subject matter of the test varies with the
The objective of assessment is typically to answer a referral about each individual’s unique constellation of personality focus of the particular test and is based on the theoretical
question, solve a problem, or arrive at a decision through the tools traits, with no attempt to characterize each person orientation of different test developers
of evaluation according to any particular set of traits • Format – the form, plan, structure, layout of test items, and
other considerations (e.g., time limits)
• Collaborative psychological assessment – the assessor and
• Administration – tests may either involve demonstration of
assessee work as partners
certain tasks demanded of the assessee and trained
• Therapeutic psychological assessment – therapeutic self- observation of performance or may not require the
discovery is encouraged through the assessment process involvement of test administrators
Dynamic assessment is typically employed in educational settings • Scoring and Interpretation – scoring of tests may be
but may also be used in correctional, corporate, simple, such as summing responses to items
o May require more elaborate procedures
neuropsychological, clinical, and other settings
o Some test results can be interpreted easily or
interpreted by a computer, whereas other tests require
expertise for proper interpretation
• Cut score – a reference point, usually numerical, used to
divide data into two or more classifications (e.g., pass or
fail)
• Technical quality or Psychometric Soundness –
Psychometrics is the science of psychological
measurement; the psychometric soundness of a test
depends on how consistently and accurately the test
measures what it purports to measure
o Test users are sometimes referred to as psychometrists
or psychometricians
Psychological Testing Type of Tests • Personality Tests – these are tests that measure typical
behavior like traits, disposition, temperament, and
• Refers to administration and applications of underlying A. According to Administration
attitudes. These are divided into two classifications:
concepts of psychological tests o Structured/Objective personality test – provides self-
• Individual tests – these are tests that can only be given to
• The main purpose of tests is to evaluate individual report statements which require the examinee to
only one person at a time. Some examples are the Wechsler
differences or variations among individuals choose between two or more alternative responses
Scale, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and Rorschach
• A psychological test is an objective and standardized o Projective personality test – provides an ambiguous or
Inkblot Test
measure of a sample human behavior vague stimulus wherein the examinee presents an
• Group tests – these are tests that can be administered to
• The term sample of behavior refers to an individual’s open-ended response
more than one person at a time by a single examiner. Some
performance on tasks that have usually been prescribed
examples are the Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Myers- Characteristics of Personality or Interest Inventories Tests
beforehand
Briggs Type Indicator, and Sacks Sentence Completion Test
• A psychological test can either measure overt behavior
• Not usually timed
(e.g., social skills, eating habits, stage fright) or covert B. According to the Type of Behavior they Measure
• No right and wrong answers
behavior (e.g., thoughts, feelings, and other mental
• Ability tests – these are tests that measure skills in terms • Contain internal checks for inconsistent answers
processes)
of speed, accuracy, or both. These are divided into three
Characteristics of a Psychological Tests classifications:
o Intelligence test – measures general potential or
1. It is Objective. Freedom from the subjective influence of
abilities to solve problems, adapt to changing
the examiner
circumstances, think abstractly, and profit from
2. It is Standardized. Uniformity in the administration and
experience
interpretation of results
o Aptitude test – measures the potential for learning or
3. Tests are Samples of Behavior since it does not measure
acquiring a specific skill (verbal, numerical, logical);
the totality of a person’s characteristics
learning potential
4. The Test Should be Valid-Accurate
o Achievement test – measures previous learning
5. The Test Should be Reliable-Consistent
• Power tests – requires an examinee to exhibit the extent or
6. Projective Techniques and Psychometric Tests were
depth of his understanding or skill. Tests with varying levels
different from each other but still complementing each
of difficulty are tests that can be administered to more than
other
one person at a time by a single examiner. Some examples
are the Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator, and Sack’s Sentence Completion Test; Difficulty of
a test
• Speed Tests – requires the examinee to complete as many
items as possible. Contains items of uniform and generally
simple level of difficulty; Timed test
Types of Tests Top 10 Most Commonly Used Tests
Interest Inventory 1. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) 3. Self-Knowledge
2. Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test o Psychological tests can also supply a potent source of
• Measures an individual’s performance for certain activities 3. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) self-knowledge about an individual’s intelligence and
or topics and thereby help determine occupational choice 4. Minesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) personality characteristics
or make career decisions 5. Rorschach Ink Blot Test o The feedback a person receives from psychological test
• Measure the direction and strength of interest 6. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) results is so self-affirming that it can change the entire
• Assumption: interests though unstable, have a certain 7. Sentence Completion course of a life
stability, or else it cannot be measured 8. Goodenough Draw-A-Person Test o Self-check = self-referral
• Stability is said to start at 17 years old 9. House-Tree-Person Test 4. Program Evaluation
• Broad lines of interest are more stable while specific lines 10. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale o Another use of psychological tests is the systematic
of interest are more unstable, they can change a lot assessment and evaluation of educational and social
Five Basic Uses of Testing o Examples of these are the National Elementary
Values Inventory
1. Classification Achievement Test (NEAT), National Secondary
• Purports to measure generalized and dominant interests o Placement – sorting of persons into different programs Assessment (NSAT) and Head Start Program
• The only observable criterion is overt behavior appropriate to their needs or skills; examples are Evaluations
• Employed less frequently than interest in vocational qualifying exams in math. Mostly used in the industrial 5. Research
counseling and career decision-making setting for proper job placement o Tests also play a major role in both applied and
o Screening – refers to quick and simple tests or theoretical branches of behavioral research
Creativity Test o Examples of this are researches on neurocognitive
procedures to identify persons who might have special
• A test that assesses an individual’s ability to produce characteristics or needs; examples are tests that use to profile of children with dyslexia and
new/original ideas, insights, or artistic creations that are screen children with gifted abilities (educational neuropsychological evaluation of people with brain
accepted as being social, aesthetic, or scientific value setting) damage
• Can assess the person’s capacity to find unusual or o Certification – form of classification that has a pass/fail
unexpected solutions for vaguely defined problems quality which implies that a person has at least a
minimum proficiency in some discipline or activity; Tools of Psychological Assessment
Neuropsychological Test examples are licensure exams. Board, bar examinations
o Selection – form of classification that has a pass/fail 2. Interview
• Measures cognitive, sensory, perceptual, and motor
quality which confers a person with privileges; • The interview is a method of gathering information through
performance to determine the extent, locus, and
examples are the opportunity to attend a university or direct communication involving reciprocal exchange.
behavioral consequences of brain damage, given to
to gain employment Interviews vary based on their purpose, length, and nature
persons with known or suspected brain dysfunction
2. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning • The quality of information obtained in an interview often
Norm-Referenced Test – raw scores are converted to standard o A proper diagnosis conveys information about depends of the skills of the interviewer (e.g., their pacing,
scores strengths, weaknesses, etiology, and best choices for rapport with the interviewee, and their ability to convey
treatment (planning) genuineness, empathy, and humor)
Criterion-Referenced Test – raw scores are referenced to specific o Diagnosis is largely useless without treatment
cut-off scores recommendations
o Psychological tests are also used in follow-ups
Other Tools of Psychological Assessment Computers as Tools Who, What, Why, How, and Where?
3. Portfolio • Scoring may be done on-site (local processing) or at a Who are the Parties?
central location (central processing)
• A file containing the products of one’s work; it may serve as • Test developer – creates tests for research studies,
a sample of one’s abilities and accomplishment • Reports may come in the form of a simple scoring report
publications (as commercially available instruments), or
• Mostly used in industrial setting (mere testing of scores only), extended scoring report
modifications of existing tests
(inclusion of statistical analysis), interpretive report (with
4. Case History Data • Test user – tests are used by a wide range of professionals
narrative statements), consultative report or integrative
• Test taker – anyone who is the subject of an assessment or
• Information preserved in records, transcripts, and/or other report (has feedback/opinion from an expert)
evaluation is a test taker
forms (from previous schools or employers) • Computer-assisted psychological assessment (CAPA) and
• Test takers may differ on a number or variables at the time
computer adaptive testing (CAT) have allowed for tailor-
5. Behavioral Observation of testing (e.g., test anxiety, emotional distress, physical
made tests with built-in scoring and interpretive
discomfort, and alertness)
• Monitoring the actions of people through visual or capabilities
• Accessibility of Tests: Who may Obtain Tests?
electronic means • Computerizes tests administration, scoring, and
o Test developers, publishers, and psychological
• Taking notes of their behavior during interview interpretation
examiners generally release psychological tests only to
o A number of psychological tests can be purchased on
6. Role-Play Tests qualified persons who have a legitimate need to study
disc or administered and scored online
or use these materials
• Assessees are directed to act as if they were in a particular o Offer convenience, simplicity, and a greater range of
situation; this is useful in evaluating various skills o Who may purchase tests: educational institutions,
assessments
government, and social agencies, business and
7. Computers as Tools • Issues in computer-assisted psychological assessment
industrial firms, management firms and consultants,
(CAPA)
• Computers can assist in test administration, scoring, and professional psychologists, and counselors
o Access to test administration, scoring, and
interpretation • Accessibility of Tests: Reasons Why Access to Psychological
interpretation software
Tests are Restricted
o Comparability of pencil-and-paper and computerized
1. In the hands of unqualified persons, psychological tests
tests
can cause harm
o The value of computerized test interpretations
2. The selection process is rendered invalid for persons
o Unprofessional, unregulated “psychological testing”
who preview test questions
online
3. Leakage of item content to the general public
o Assessment is increasingly conducted via the internet
completely destroys the efficacy of a test
(because there’s no proctors)
• Accessibility of Tests: Levels of Complexity
Advantages of Internet testing o The accessibility of tests depends upon the complexity
of the specific test under consideration
1. Greater access to potential test users
o The American Psychological Association (APA)
2. Scoring and interpretation tend to be quicker
proposed that tests fall into three levels od complexity
3. Costs tend to be lower
4. Facilitates testing of otherwise isolated populations and
people with disabilities
Levels of Complexity Who are the Parties? What Types of Settings?

• Level A (teachers, guidance counselor) • Society at Large – test developers create tests to meet the • Educational settings – students typically undergo school
o These instruments are straightforward paper-and- needs of an evolving society ability tests and achievement tests
pencil measure that can be administered, scored, and • Laws and court decisions may play a major role in test • Diagnostic tests may be used to identify areas of
interpreted with minimal training (vocational development, administration, and interpretation educational intervention
proficiency and educational achievement tests) • Other Parties – organizations, companies, and • Educators may also make informal evaluations
o Test administrator must have undergraduate courses in governmental agencies sponsor the development of tests • Clinical settings – include hospitals, inpatient and
testing or psychometrics, or sufficient training and • Companies may offer test-scoring and interpretation outpatient clinics, private-practice consulting rooms,
experience services schools, and other institutions
o Achievement tests, Specialized Aptitudes tests • Academicians may review tests and evaluate their o Assessment tools are u sed to help screen for or
• Level B (licensed psychometricioan supervised by a psychometric soundness diagnose behavior problems
psychologist) • Counseling settings – include schools, prisons, and
o These tests require knowledge of test construction and governmental or privately owned institutions
training in statistics and psychology o The goal of assessments in this setting is improvements
o This category includes aptitude tests and personality in adjustment, productivity, or some related variable
inventories applicable to normal population • Geriatric settings – assessment primarily evaluate
o Test administrator must have completed an advanced cognitive, psychological, adaptive, or other functioning; it
level course in testing in a college or university or focuses on the quality of life
equivalent training under the supervision of a qualified • Business and Military settings – decisions regarding
psychologist careers of personnel are made with a variety of
o Group Intelligence and Personality Test achievement, aptitude, interest, motivational, and other
• Level C tests
o These tests require substantial understanding of • Government and Organizational Credentialing – include
testing and supporting topics governmental licensing, certification, or general
o These instruments include individual tests of credentialing of professionals (e.g., attorneys, physicians,
intelligence, projective techniques, and and psychologists)
neuropsychological test batteries
o Tests administrator must have at least a master’s
degree in psychology and at least one year of
experience under professional supervision
o Projective Tests and Individualized Intelligence tests
How are Assessments Conducted? Where to Go for Information of Tests Making Inferences and Decisions in Psychological Testing and
Assessment
• Different methods are used • Tests Catalogues – catalogues distributed by publishers of
• Responsible test users have obligations before, during, and tests; they usually contain brief and uncritical descriptions 1. Base Rate – an index, usually expressed as a proportion, of
after testing of tests the extent to which a particular trait, behavior,
o Obligations include: • Test Manuals – contain detailed information concerning characteristic, or attribute exists in a population
- Familiarity with test materials and procedures the development of a particular test and technical (percentage of a population)
- Ensuring that the room in which the test will be information 2. Hit Rate – the proportion of people a test or other
conducted is suitable and conducive to the testing • Reference Volumes – reference volumes like the Mental measurement procedure accurately identifies as
- It is important to establish rapport during test Measurements Yearbook or Tests in Print provide detailed possessing or exhibiting a particular trait, behavior,
administration; rapport can be defined as a information on many tests characteristic, or attribute (population with a specific
working relationship between the examiner and • Journal Articles – contains reviews of a test, updated or behavior)
the examinee independent studies of its psychometric soundness, or 3. Miss Rate – the proportion of people a test or other
examples of how the instrument was used in either measurement procedure fails to identify accurately with
Assessment of People with Disabilities respect to the possession or exhibition of a trait, behavior,
research or an applied context
• The law mandates “alternate assessment” and the • Online databases – Educational Resources Information characteristic, or attribute; a “miss” in this context is an
definition of this is up to individual states or school districts Center (ERIC) contains a wealth resources and news about inaccurate classification or prediction and can be classified
• Accommodations – the adaptation of a test, procedure, or tests, testing, and assessment; there are abstracts of as:
situation, or the substitution of one test for another–are articles, original articles, and links to other useful websites a. False Positive (Type I error) – an inaccurate
essential to make the assessment more suitable for an • The American Psychological Association (APA) has a prediction or classification indicating that a test
assessee with exceptional needs number of databases including PsycINFO, ClinPSYC, taker did possess a trait or other attribute being
• Testing people with disabilities – some challenges in PsycARTICLES, and PsycSCAN measured when in reality the test taker did not
testing people with disabilities may include 1) transforming • Other sources - Directory of Unpublished Experimental b. False Negative (Type II error) – an inaccurate
the test into form that can be taken by the test taker, 2) Mental Measures; also, university libraries provide access prediction of classification indicating that a test
transforming the responses of the test taker so that they to online databases, such as PsycINFO and electronic taker did not possess a trait or other attribute
are scorable, and 3) meaningfully interpreting the test data journals being measured when in reality the test taker did
• Under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, terminally ill
patients requesting assistance dying must have a
psychological evaluation
Cross-Cultural Testing Pre-test 2 What is the focus of the nomothetic approach in psychology?

1. Parameters where cultures vary What is the primary purpose of psychological testing? ➢ Identifying general laws and universal principles of
o Language behavior.
➢ To assess cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
o Test Content
Which of the following best describes the idiographic approach?
o Education What is the difference between psychological testing and
o Speed (Tempo of Life) psychological assessment? ➢ It focuses on understanding individual experiences and
2. Culture Free Tests uniqueness.
o An attempt to eliminate culture so nature can be ➢ Psychological testing focuses on specific trats, while
isolated assessment involves a broader evaluation. What does the content of a psychological test refer to?
o Impossible to develop such because culture is evident What is the primary focus of collaborative psychological ➢ The subject matter or domain that the test is designed to
in its influence since birth or an individual assessment? measure.
3. Culture Fare Tests
o These tests were developed because of the non- ➢ To involve the client as an active participant in the What does format in psychological testing refer to?
success of culture-free tests assessment process.
➢ The way the test is presented, including its structure and
o Nurture is not removed but parameters are common How does therapeutic psychological assessment differ from type of questions.
an fair to all traditional psychological assessment?
o Can be done using three approaches such as follows: Which of the following best describes the administration of a
- Fair to all cultures ➢ It is designed to be an intervention that promotes self- psychological test?
- Fair to some cultures awareness and change.
➢ The procedures for giving, timing, and guiding the test-
- Fair only to one culture
Which of the following best describes the role of the client in a taker through the test.
4. Culture Loadings
collaborative psychological assessment?
o The extent to which a test incorporates the vocabulary, What is a cut score in the context of psychological testing?
concepts, traditions, knowledge, and feelings, ➢ The client actively participates in discussions and
➢ A specific score that separates different categories or
associated with particular culture interpretations of the results.
classifications.
In therapeutic psychological assessment, feedback sessions are
Which of the following best describes a group test in psychological
used to:
assessment?
➢ Help clients gain insights and facilitate personal growth.
➢ A test designed to assess a large group of individuals
What is the primary goal of dynamic assessment? simultaneously.

➢ To evaluate how a person learns and responds to Which of the following is a disadvantage of individual psychological
intervention. tests?

What are the main phases of dynamic assessment? ➢ They are often time-consuming and require more resources
per participant.
➢ Pre-test, Intervention, Post-test
Achievement tests are most used to assess which of the following? Which of the following best describes certification testing? What is the primary role of a test taker in psychological
assessment?
➢ How well an individual has learned or mastered specific ➢ It is used to determine whether an individual has met
skills of knowledge. specific professional or educational standards. ➢ To complete the test based on instructions.

What is the primary purpose of an aptitude test? What is the primary purpose of selection testing? What is the primary purpose of classifying psychological tests into
Levels A, B, and C?
➢ To measure a person’s intellectual potential and ability to ➢ To identify individuals who meet specific eligibility
learn or develop skills. requirements for a program or job. ➢ To ensure only qualified individuals administer and
interpret tests.
What is the main difference between an aptitude test and an Which of the following is a primary tool used in psychological
achievement test? assessment to gather a client’s background and life history? Which of the following best describes a Level A test?

➢ Aptitude tests measure potential for future learning, while ➢ Case history data ➢ Can be administered, scored, and interpreted with minimal
achievement tests assess knowledge and skills already training.
Which assessment tool involves analyzing a collection of a person’s
acquired.
work over time to evaluate skills and development? What is a key requirement for administering Level B tests?
A speed test is primarily designed to measure which of the
➢ Portfolio assessment ➢ Some graduate-level coursework in psychology, education,
following?
or related fields.
Behavioral observation is most useful for assessing which of the
➢ A person’s ability to perform tasks accurately under time
following? Who is typically allowed to administer Level C tests?
pressure.
➢ Observable actions and social interactions ➢ Trained professionals with a doctorate or specialized
Which of the following is the primary purpose of a norm-referenced
certification.
test (NRT)? What is one of the key benefits of using computer based
psychological assessments?
➢ To compare an individual’s performance to the
performance of a specific group or population. ➢ They provide instant scoring and reduce human error.
Criterion-referenced tests (CRT) are designed to: Who is primarily responsible for designing and validating
psychological tests?
➢ Determine whether a person meets a specific predefined
standard or set of objectives. ➢ Test developer
Which of the following best defines placement testing? Which of the following best describes the role of a test user in
psychological assessment?
➢ Assigning individuals to appropriate levels within an
educational or training program. ➢ They apply and interpret tests for decision-making
purposes.
What is the main purpose of screening in psychological testing?

➢ To quickly identify individuals who may need further

evaluation.