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1.13: Psychological Assessment

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    221606

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    Learning Objectives
    • Describe the types and purposes of psychological assessment

    Psychological Tests

    Psychological tests are written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of clients or patients. These tests can include questionnaires and interviews, which are also designed to measure unobserved constructs. As we mentioned earlier, useful psychological test/scale must be both valid (i.e., there is evidence to support the idea that the test or scale measures what it is purported to measure and “how well it does so”) and reliable (i.e., internally consistent or give consistent results over time, across raters, etc.). Therefore, a test should meet the criterion of standardization.

    Survey checklist
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A critical part of the treatment process involves utilizing assessments to gather information that can provide direction for how to move forward with a client.

    One of the main advantages of standardized testing is that the results can be empirically documented; therefore, the test scores can be shown to have a relative degree of validity and reliability, as well as results that are generalizable and replicable. A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or “standard,” manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.

    Psychological assessment is most often used in the psychiatric, medical, legal, educational, or psychological clinic settings. This type of clinical assessment can be thought of as a broad range of measurement techniques, all which involve having people provide scorable information about their psychological functioning. The types of assessments and the purposes for them differ among these settings.

    I

    Glossary

    psychological assessment: a broad range of measurement techniques, all which involve having people provide scorable information about their psychological functioning

    psychological tests: written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of clients or patients

    standardized test: a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or “standard,” manner

    1. Pittenger, David (December 1993). "The Utility of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator". Review of Educational Research. 63 (4): 467–488. doi:10.3102/00346543063004467 ↵
    2. Michael, James (February 2003). "Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a Tool for Leadership Development? Apply With Caution". Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies. 10: 68–81. doi:10.1177/107179190301000106 ↵
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