psychological assessment

• Psychological Testing - process of measuring psychology - related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior. it is numerical in nature, administered individual or by group, administrators can be interchangeable without affecting the evaluation, it requires technician - like skills in terms of administration and scoring, and it yield a test score or series of test score - minutes to few hours
• Assessment - systematic gathering of information about an individual's abilities, knowledge, attitudes, interests, values, etc., with the purpose of making decisions based on this information.
• Purpose of Psychological Assessment - To determine if there is a problem; to identify the type of problem; to evaluate the severity of the problem; to develop treatment plan; to monitor progress during treatment; to make recommendations regarding placement, education, employment, insurance coverage, legal issues, etc.; to assist in research studies.
• Types of Tests - Achievement tests (measure what has been learned); aptitude tests (predict future performance); intelligence tests (general mental ability); personality tests (personality traits); interest inventories (vocational guidance)
• Criterion-referenced testing - compares scores against predetermined standards that are independent of any particular population
• Norm-referenced testing - compares scores against normative data from other individuals who have taken the same test under similar conditions
• Psychometric Assessment - measurement of human characteristics using standardized tests that are reliable and valid.
• Norm-referenced testing - compares scores against normative data from other people who have taken the same test under similar conditions. It provides a comparison between individuals rather than comparing them to some standard.
• Norm-referenced testing - compares scores against normative data from a specific population
• Criterion-referenced testing - measures how well someone performs relative to specific criteria such as mastery of certain concepts or competency in performing a task.
• Standardization - procedure used to ensure that all examinees take the test under standardized conditions so that their responses will be comparable
• Reliability - consistency of measurement over time or across different situations
• Standardized Test - uniformly applied to all examinees regardless of their background characteristics. The test items are selected so that they will measure the trait being assessed equally well across different groups of examinees.
• Standardization - procedure used to ensure that all individuals taking a test receive the same instructions, take the test under similar conditions, and have their responses scored in the same manner
• Reliability - consistency of measurement over time or across different forms of the test
• Validity - extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure
• Reliability - consistency or stability of results over time or across different administrations of the same test.
• Content Validity - degree to which items on a test represent the content domain being measured.
• Validity - extent to which a measure accurately assesses what it claims to be measuring.
• Psychological Test


  Device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology
• Psychological Test


  • Content: subject matter
  • Format: form, plan, structure, arrangement, layout
  • Item: a specific stimulus to which a person responds overtly and this response is being scored or evaluated
  • Administration Procedures: one-to-one basis or group administration
  • Score: code or summary of statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, but reflects an evaluation of performance on a test
  • Scoring: the process of assigning scores to performances
  • Cut-Score: reference point derived by judgement and used to divide a set of data into two or more classification
• Psychological Test


  Device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology
• Psychological Test


  • Content: subject matter
  • Format: form, plan, structure, arrangement, layout
• Item


  A specific stimulus to which a person responds overtly and this response is being scored or evaluated
• Administration Procedures


  • One-to-one basis or group administration
• Score


  Code or summary of statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, but reflects an evaluation of performance on a test
• Scoring


  The process of assigning scores to performances
• Cut-Score


  Reference point derived by judgement and used to divide a set of data into two or more classification
• Psychometric Soundness is the technical quality of a test. ▪ Psychometrics is the science of psychological measurement. Psychometrist or Psychometrician refers to professional who uses, analyzes, and interprets psychological data.
• Ability or Maximal Performance Test – assess what a person can do
• Achievement Tests - measures how much knowledge has been acquired through learning experiences
• Personality Tests - measure individual differences in behavioral tendencies, attitudes, values, interests, etc.
• Attitude Scales - measures degree of agreement/disagreement with statements about self or others
• Self-Report Measures - questionnaires that ask respondents to report their own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, etc.
• Values Assessment - measures importance placed on different aspects of life (e.g., family, career, religion)
• Projective Techniques - use ambiguous stimuli (e.g., inkblots) to elicit responses from which personality characteristics may be inferred
• Interviewing - face-to-face interaction between interviewer and subject; used to gather information on various aspects of an individual's life history, current functioning, and other relevant factors
• Observation - direct observation of individuals’ behavior in natural settings or laboratory situations
• Rorschach Inkblot Method - uses inkblots as projective stimulus; responses are interpreted by trained psychologist
• Interviews are used to gather information about an individual's background, history, current functioning, and other relevant factors