An introduction to psychological assessment in the south african context. While an achievement test is a measure of ones developed knowledge or skill, iq tests, on the other hand, provide measures of intelligence and other cognitive faculties. Psychological assessment and tests content types, development, characteristics, principles, uses interpretations and role of nurse in psychological assessment i. Assessment information forms a baseline to measure student. Methods of psychological assessment essay writing blog. Types of psychological assessment methods 15 standards and guidelines for evaluating tests and test usage 18 sources of information about assessment procedures 21 summary 22 chapter 3 measurement concepts and test interpretation 23. Initial assessments can help determine possible treatment options, and periodic assessment throughout care can guide treatment and gauge progress. Performance tasks performance tasks are handson activities that require students to demonstrate. These types of psychological assessment tools are based more on the understanding and judgment of the psychiatrist, rather than a preset rating scale as with objective tests and tools.
Psychological assessment contributes important information to the understanding of individual characteristics and capabilities, through the collection, integration, and interpretation of information about an individual grothmarnat, 2009. To be able to meaningfully respond to these challenges, it was important to gain an understanding of how psychological assessment is being perceived by educators. Generally each category of tests are related to the dominant theory of the. A standardized test is the most common example of an achievement test that provides insight into the. This assessment is designed for collegebound students and adults. A psychological assessment is a mental health examination used to evaluate a persons mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as to aid in diagnosing any potential mental health issues. The studies cover a broad range of forensic mental health assessment topics, settings, populations, and types of instruments. Study notes on psychological tests psychology discussion. Comparatively little attention has been devoted to applying the principles of ebpp to psychological assessment, despite the fact that assessment plays a central role in myriad domains of empirical and applied psychology e.
Psychological testing and psychological assessment. Introduction principles of psychological measurement. Psychological testing also called psychological assessment is the foundation of how psychologists better understand a person and their behavior. Psychological testing and evaluation is also used with adults, for instance, to determine the extent of a brain injury or disorder, or to decide if a person is mentally competent to stand trial. Oxford university press, 2006 psychology 282 pages. The four types of psychological tests are clinical interview, behavioral assessment, personality assessment and an assessment of intellectual functioning, also called an iq test. Types of assessment 27 to write an essay evaluating a reallife situation and proposing a solution such as determining why a calf is sick and proposing a cure. Types of psychological assessment methods 15 standards and guidelines for evaluating tests and test usage 18 sources of information about assessment procedures 21. Psychiatrists and doctors often use several different psychological assessment tools to aid in this evaluation and help them to gain a clear picture of a. A method of operationalizing a psychological construct using a multiple item test e. Psychological scales and measures play a role in diagnosis, hypothesistesting,formulation, and ongoing assessments of clients progress in treatment. Applications of the enneagram to psychological assessment by marlene cresci cohen, phd introduction the enneagram, as a model of human perception encompasses both the human and transpersonal dimensions of our experience. Naturally in saying this i only refer to those cases which occur under normal conditions.
Generally each category of tests are related to the dominant theory of the time. The following instruments or earlier versions that corresponded to dsmiv were used in the studies that served as the evidence. Types of reasoning associated with psychological testing inductive reasoning from data to general theory. The samples of behavior that make up a paperandpencil test, the most common type of test, are a series of items. All professionals must be sensitive to cultural, linguistic and experiential factors when selecting assessment procedures and interpreting results, as well as in the program planning process. Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve anxiety. These were some of the different types of psychological tests that are commonly used for measurement of mental abilities and cognitive abilities. Personality assessments or psychometrics as they are sometimes known, are the branch of psychology that deals with the design, administration, and interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude and personality traits. Applications of the enneagram to psychological assessment. Psychological testing many types of tests many are related to testing of personality types, behavior, or intelligence. Special issue of the apa journal psychological assessment, vol. A psychological assessment involves the planned use of interviews generally semistructured and specific psychometric assessments tests to answer questions highlighted in a referral. Psychological assessment scales and measures psychology.
Examples are, armed services vocational aptitude battery. Most of these tests are written and performed in a psychologists office. In some tools, patients are asked to draw pictures or are shown pictures and asked to explain how the image makes them feel, or to create a story about the image. This book outlines the main concepts of assessment, explains the types of measures that are used to assess human behavior, and examines how such measures are to be used. A psychological test is essentially an objective and standardised measure of a sample of behaviour, that is, it is based on observation of a chosen sample of human behaviour. Methods of psychological assessment rorschach inkblot test belongs to projective methods of psychological assessment. The news items above illustrate some of the ways psychological tests have been applied in our societies. It is a template that can be customized and people can use it as a guide for writing their report. I find that questions are typically around teasing out complex diagnoses, helping clarify symptomscoping stylepersonality, or, specifying the types of.
During world war ii, the military would depend even more on psychological tests to screen recruits for service. Psychological tests provide a way to formally and accurately measure different factors that can contribute to peoples problems. It is a way of understanding both oneself and the interpersonal difficulties that arise between people. Identify and locate print and online resources that are available for locating information about psychological tests. An introduction to psychological assessment in the south. Careful assessment is an important part of evidencebased practice.
A psychological assessment is the attempt of a skilled professional, usually a psychologist, to use the techniques and tools of psychology to learn either general or specific facts about another person, either to inform others of how they function now, or to predict their behavior and functioning in the future. Pdf psychological testing and psychological assessment. Such information is obtained through a variety of methods and measures, with relevant sources determined by the specific purposes of the. The concepts span normal and higher functioning as well as dysfunction.
The field of psychological assessment in south african schools faces many challenges at present. The test was developed in 1921 by herman rorschach. What are the different types of psychological assessment. Data from more than 125 metaanalyses on test validity and 800 samples examining multimethod assessment suggest 4 general conclusions. The aptitude tests measure the potential of performance in a person. We also distinguish four concepts that students often get confused. Determination of the medical necessity of psychological tests always requires consideration of the clinical facts of the specific case to assure that tests. The accurate assessment of psychological symptoms is an essential component of developing a helpful formulation regarding a clients difficulties. Other books have been written based on jungs system of psychological types. The benefits of psychological assessments and when to use. Best practices for remote psychological assessment via. Overview of psychological testing psychological testing. This is template prepared for students who are undergoing psychological diagnosis or assessment.
Psychological testing is the administration of psychological tests, which are designed to be an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior. Anxiety is a vague, uncomfortable feeling of fear, dread, or danger. The term sample of behavior refers to an individuals performance on tasks that have usually been prescribed beforehand. Before a psychological test is administered, the individual being. Material was prepared for use as an aid in handling requests for psychological testing. Psychological test measurement instrument that consists of a sample of behavior obtained under standardized conditions and evaluated using established scoring rules. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
1310 997 1655 771 203 1519 738 1127 168 382 306 954 847 948 568 386 211 1255 665 723 1479 682 247 720 776 1610 685 899 363 496 959 203 1447 639 403