Psychological Assessment

Lesson 1: psychological testing and assessment

Test vs. Assessment Systematic method of documenting and Parties in the Assessment
Used to examine someone's using empirical data to measure Test Developer
knowledge of something to knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs Create test on other methods of assessment
determine what that person Test Publisher
knows or has learned They publish, market, and sell tests
Test User
Testing - used to refer from administration of a test to the interpretation of scores Clinicians, school psychologists, human resources, personnel are the ones
Psychological Testing - process of measuring psychology-related variables by who will conduct the test
means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample Test Taker
behavior Subject of an assessment or an observation
Psychological Assessment - gathering and integration of psychology-related data Psychological Autopsy
for the purpose of making psychological evaluation Reconstruction of deceased individuals' psychological profile
Society at Large
Testing Assessment As society evolves, the need to measure different psychological variables
Objective To obtain some gauge, usually To answer a referral question, emerges
numerical in nature, with regard solve a problem, or arrive at a Test developers respond by devising new tests
to an ability or attribute decision through the use of tools
and evaluation Settings Where Assessment is Conducted
Process May be individual or group in Typically individualized; focuses Educational Setting
nature on how an individual processes Help identify children who may have special needs
rather than the results of that Provides achievement test, which evaluated accomplishment or the degree
processing of learning that took place
Role of Tester is not key to the process Assessor is key to the process Clinical Setting
Evaluator Help in screening diagnosis and military hospitals, impatient, outpatient
Skill of Requires technician-like skills in Requires an educated selection clinics, private practice consulting rooms and schools
Evaluator terms of administering and of tools of evaluation Counseling Setting
scoring a test Ultimate objective is the improvement of the assessee in terms of
Outcome Yields a test score or series Entails a logical problem-solving adjustment and productivity
of test scores approach that brings to bear Geriatric Settings
many sources of data designed to For old age
shed light on a referral question Ultimate goal is to provide good quality of life
Business/Military Settings
The Process of Assessment Decision making about the careers of personnel
Begins with a referral question from a source Government and Organizational
Clarify aspects of the reason for referral Government licensing, certification, or general credentialing of professionals
Prepares for the assessment by selecting the tools of assessment to be used Other Settings
Formal assessment will begin Court Trials
After the assessment, the assessor will write a report of the findings Health Psychology
Varieties of Assessment How Are Assessments Conducted
Therapeutic Psychological Assessment
Refers to assessment that has therapeutic components to it Before the Test
Educational Assessment Ethical guidelines dictate that when test users have discretion with regard to
The use of tests and other tools to evaluate abilities and skills relevant to the tests administered, they should select and use only the test or tests that
success/failure in a school context are most appropriate for the individual being tested.
Retrospective Assessment
The use of evaluative tools to draw conclusions about psychological aspects The test should be stored in a way that reasonably ensures that its specific
of a person as they existed at some point in time contents will not be made known to the test taker in advance.
Remote Assessment
Use of tools of psychological evaluation to gather data and draw conclusion Obligations of the test user before the test's administration is to ensure that
about a subject who is not in physical proximity a prepared and suitably trained person administers the test properly.
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
Refers to the "in the moment" evaluation of specific problems and related The test administer must be familiar with the test materials and procedures
cognitive and behavioral variables at the very time and place that they occur and must have all the materials needed to properly administer the test.

Approaches in Assessment Test users have the responsibility of ensuring that the room in which the test
will be conducted is suitable and conducive to testing.
Collaborative Psychological Assessment
Assessor and assessee work as "partners" PROTOCOL diplomatic etiquette (non-test related conversation)
Considered to be the therapeutic psychological assessment refers to the form or sheet or booklet on which a test
Dynamic Assessment taker's responses are.
Interactive, changing, or varying in nature
Usually employed in education setting
During the Test
Rapport between the examiner and the examinee can be critically important.

RAPPORT defined as a working relationship between the examiner and the examinee.

After the Test

Test users have obligation range from safeguarding the test protocols to conveying the test results in a clearly understandable fashion.
If third parties were present during testing or if anything else that might be considered out of the ordinary happened during testing, it is the test user's responsibility
to make a note of such events on the report of testing.
Test users who have responsibility for interpreting scores or other test results have an obligation to do so in accordance with established procedures and ethical
guidelines.

References Sources
Test Catalogues
Most readily accessible
Usually contain a brief description of the test and seldom contain the kind of detailed technical information
Test Manuals
Detailed information concerning the development of the test
Contain technical information