Psychological Assessment

• Projective tests are a type of psychological assessment that involves interpreting ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings.
• Intelligence tests are used to measure cognitive abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, and memory.
• Psychological assessment is the gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation
• Psychological tests measure what they say they measure, and any inferences drawn about test takers based on their scores are appropriate
• Psychological tests measure various dimensions of the human mind, such as personality, intelligence, religiosity, sexuality, etc.
• Psychometrics is the science of psychological measurement
• Psychological measurement involves computing and scoring test results
• Psychological testing involves measuring dimensions of the human mind and should be standardized according to strict guidelines
• Psychological assessment involves making sense and interpreting numbers to reach a decision
• Psychological tests are used for various purposes, including identifying mentally retarded persons, educational and occupational counseling, individual counseling, and research and data gathering
• A psychological test is a measurement device or technique used to quantify behavior or aid in the understanding and prediction of behavior
• Psychological tests can be categorized into intelligence tests, achievement tests, aptitude tests, personality tests, and performance tests
• Intelligence tests measure problem-solving skills and can be verbal or non-verbal
• Achievement tests assess past learning, while aptitude tests determine potential in a specific field
• Personality tests evaluate emotional, motivational, interpersonal, attitudinal, and behavioral aspects
• Performance tests are non-paper and pencil format tests that involve laboratory tasks
• Psychological tests can be administered individually or in a group, with individual tests requiring higher examiner competency
• Psychological tests should be standardized, have established norms, and demonstrate reliability and validity in measuring what they purport to measure
• Qualified examiners are needed for selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological tests to ensure proper use and interpretation of scores
• Test content must be secure to prevent deliberate efforts to fake scores, and test communication helps familiarize test takers with testing procedures and properties
• Test administration involves advance preparation of examiners, suitable testing conditions, and establishing rapport with test-takers to ensure appropriate responses
• Various factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, training, and experience can influence test performance, and coaching can impact test scores without affecting true ability
• Psychometrics is a field of study that deals specifically with psychological measurement
• Psychological measurement is done through testing
• Psychometrists have to ensure that tests are both valid and reliable
• Validity means that the test measures what it's supposed to measure
• Various types of psychometric tests are designed to measure educational achievement, knowledge, attitudes, or personality traits
• New psychometric tests undergo rigorous trials and norming periods before being used
• Reliability means that the same result is obtained from the same person each time the test is administered
• Psychological assessment involves tests that tell a person something about themselves
• Psychological tests can reveal personality traits, skills, abilities, intelligence, and potential career paths
• There are many different types of psychological tests that serve different purposes
• Projective tests involve showing images to a person and asking them to interpret the images
• Common projective tests include the Rorschach inkblot test and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
• Projective tests can reveal unconscious aspects of a person
• Inventory-type tests, like the MMPI and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, try to measure a person's characteristics or attitudes
• Inventories are more standardized and objective than projective tests
• One issue with inventories is that they depend on honest self-reporting, which can be biased
• Aptitude tests measure a person's capabilities and skills
• Aptitude tests like the SAT and ACT assess problem-solving, critical thinking, and subject-area concepts