Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a key characteristic of interviews across various mediums?
What is a key characteristic of interviews across various mediums?
Which factor does NOT significantly affect the quality of an interview?
Which factor does NOT significantly affect the quality of an interview?
Which of the following forms can interviews take?
Which of the following forms can interviews take?
In what context are interviews especially popular beyond psychology?
In what context are interviews especially popular beyond psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
How are interviews utilized in a psychological context?
How are interviews utilized in a psychological context?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of cut scores in assessments?
What is the purpose of cut scores in assessments?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about scoring in psychological assessments is true?
Which of the following statements about scoring in psychological assessments is true?
Signup and view all the answers
In which situation might a test not require a test administrator's presence?
In which situation might a test not require a test administrator's presence?
Signup and view all the answers
What is typically true about intelligence tests and their manuals?
What is typically true about intelligence tests and their manuals?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following types of scoring techniques is mentioned?
Which of the following types of scoring techniques is mentioned?
Signup and view all the answers
Which assessment tool is known for lacking a manual?
Which assessment tool is known for lacking a manual?
Signup and view all the answers
What does scoring in psychological assessments typically involve?
What does scoring in psychological assessments typically involve?
Signup and view all the answers
The process of assigning codes or statements to performance is known as what?
The process of assigning codes or statements to performance is known as what?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of psychological assessment?
What is the primary purpose of psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which aspect distinguishes testing from assessment?
Which aspect distinguishes testing from assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
In psychological testing, what is typically the primary outcome?
In psychological testing, what is typically the primary outcome?
Signup and view all the answers
Which best describes the role of the evaluator in psychological assessment?
Which best describes the role of the evaluator in psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
How does assessment typically address a referral question?
How does assessment typically address a referral question?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of collaborative psychological assessment?
What is a characteristic of collaborative psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
What skill is particularly important for effective psychological assessment?
What skill is particularly important for effective psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement regarding traditional psychological assessment is true?
Which statement regarding traditional psychological assessment is true?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of assessment might involve educational testing?
What type of assessment might involve educational testing?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the outcome of psychological testing primarily provide?
What does the outcome of psychological testing primarily provide?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be avoided during testing due to its distracting nature?
What should be avoided during testing due to its distracting nature?
Signup and view all the answers
Which aspect of testing is essential to ensure accuracy and usefulness?
Which aspect of testing is essential to ensure accuracy and usefulness?
Signup and view all the answers
In what situations might a psychological test for medical suitability be necessary?
In what situations might a psychological test for medical suitability be necessary?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes the role of a test user in legal assessments?
What characterizes the role of a test user in legal assessments?
Signup and view all the answers
Which element is vital for establishing trust during an assessment?
Which element is vital for establishing trust during an assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
What do psychological tests aim to measure?
What do psychological tests aim to measure?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of psychological tests may involve examining diminished capacity or legal insanity?
What type of psychological tests may involve examining diminished capacity or legal insanity?
Signup and view all the answers
How should psychotropic contraindications be treated in a testing environment?
How should psychotropic contraindications be treated in a testing environment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the difference between traits and states in psychological testing?
Which of the following best describes the difference between traits and states in psychological testing?
Signup and view all the answers
What are scales in psychological testing primarily used for?
What are scales in psychological testing primarily used for?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor should be considered alongside physical conditions during assessments?
What factor should be considered alongside physical conditions during assessments?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following types of tests can be administered to more than one person simultaneously?
Which of the following types of tests can be administered to more than one person simultaneously?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common purpose of psychological assessment?
What is a common purpose of psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement differentiates educational testing from psychological assessment?
Which statement differentiates educational testing from psychological assessment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of the emergence of psychological tests in the late 1800s?
What is the significance of the emergence of psychological tests in the late 1800s?
Signup and view all the answers
What may scores on psychological tests be related to?
What may scores on psychological tests be related to?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Basic Concepts in Testing
- Testing is measuring behavior, understanding it, and predicting future behavior
- Tests are measurement devices or techniques used to quantify behavior
- Psychological tests were developed in the late 1800s
- Educational testing focuses on what a person has learned
- Psychological assessment tells us what can be learned about a person
Psychological Testing
- Tests can measure past and current behavior, and attempt to predict future behavior
- Test scores can be related to traits, or enduring characteristics and tendencies to respond in a certain way
- Test scores can be related to states, or specific conditions or statuses of individuals
Scales for Interpretation
- Psychologists use scales to help with interpretation of test results
- Scales relate raw scores on test items to a defined theoretical or empirical distribution
- An example, what 75 correct answers on a 100-item test means
Types of Testing
- Different types of tests match different types of behavior
- Individual tests are given to one person at a time
- Group tests are given to more than one person at a time by a single examiner
Psychological Assessment
- Psychological assessment gathers and integrates psychology-related data for the purpose of evaluation.
- Assessment uses diverse tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observations, and measurement procedures
Testing vs. Assessment
- They differ in objective, process, role of evaluator, skills required, and outcomes
Testing Objective
- To obtain a numerical gauge of ability or attribute
Assessment Objective
- To answer a referral question
- To solve a problem
- To arrive at a decision through the use of evaluation tools
Testing Process
- Conducted individually or in group settings
- Scores are added up, with little regard for the how or mechanics of how the result was achieved
Assessment Process
- Individualized
- Focuses on how an individual processes experiences rather than just results
Testing Role of Evaluator
- One test administrator can be substituted for another with little consequence
- The test administrator is not key to the process
Assessment Role Of Evaluator
- The assessor is key to the process of selecting tests and tools
- If absent, the conclusions drawn from the entire evaluation will be affected
Testing Skills of Evaluator
- Requires technician-like skills in administering and scoring tests, and in interpreting test results
Assessment Skills of Evaluator
- Requires knowledge of tools of evaluation, skill in evaluation, and thoughtful organization of data
- Requires a logical problem-solving approach
Testing Outcomes
- Yields a test score or a series of test scores
Assessment Outcomes
- Presents conclusions based on many sources of data, using a logical problem-solving approach
Specifics of Assessment
- The term "assessment" has many specific applications, each relating to a specific variety or area of assessment
Varieties of Assessment
- Educational assessment
- Employment assessment
- Clinical assessment
- Psychological assessment
- Occupational assessment
- Counseling assessment
- Forensic assessment
- Neuropsychological Assessment
- Medical assessment
- Legal assessment
- Governmental assessment
Process of Assessment
- Different assessors approach the task of assessment in different ways
- Traditional psychological assessment typically follows the flow of examiner explaining results, summarizing conceptualizations, and making recommendations for action or intervention
- Collaborative psychological assessment is a partnership between the assessor and assessee from initial contact through final feedback
Administration
- Some tests require an assessee to demonstrate various kinds of tasks
- Some tests require trained observation of the assessee's performance
- Some tests can be completed independently without a test administrator present
Scoring
- Scores are codes or summary statements, sometimes numerical, that reflect an evaluation of performance on a test
- Scoring is assigning these codes or statements to performance on tests, tasks, or other samples of behavior
Interpretation
- Test manuals often provide scoring criteria and interpretations of scores
Interview
- Interviews are a method of gathering information through direct communication, involving reciprocal exchange
- Interviews can be used to help make diagnostic, treatment, selection, or other decisions
- They vary according to purpose, length, and nature
- The popularity of interviews extends far beyond psychology, but always involve reciprocal communication
- Interview quality depends on the interviewer's skills, pacing, rapport, and ability to convey genuineness, empathy, and humor
Medical Assessment
- May be psychiatric or medical in nature
- Psychiatric assessments include suicide risk, admission/discharge, medical suitability, diagnosis, prognosis, perceived dangerousness, defense mechanisms, coping styles, therapeutic responsiveness, psychotropic contraindication, etc.
- Medical assessments include psychological co-morbidities to physical conditions, disease and illness, rehabilitation, substance dependence, chronic pain, somatization, emotional complaints, patient management, treatment planning, terminal illness, surgical evaluation, early intervention, quality of life, etc.
Legal Assessment
- May be forensic or criminal in nature
- Forensic assessments involve the application of psychological principles within legal settings, covering aspects such as legal proceedings, defense assessment, victim processing, suspect examination, expert witnessing, policy advising, deception detection, sentencing, custody, parole, etc.
- Criminal assessments analyze criminal thoughts, emotions, motivations, actions, triggers. This includes profiling, interrogation, rehabilitation, prediction, apprehension, etc.
Governmental Assessment
- Evaluates social and governmental functions
- May include program evaluation for various government programs, public policy evaluation, etc.
Responsibilities of Test Users
- Ensure the testing condition of the assessee is suitable and conducive to testing
- Maintain sensitivity to time, location, financial resources, and the like
- Never administer tests that are not psychometrically sound
- Ensure tests administered are appropriate for the population demographic to which they are being applied
Trust and Rapport
- Trust and rapport are crucial between examiner and examinee
- Rapport may be achieved with small talk, but may require additional information about the nature of the test for some individuals
Assessment Ethics
- Informed Consent: Obtain informed consent from the assessee before administering any tests or evaluations
- Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of all assessment results and discuss information only with appropriate parties
- Competence: Conduct assessments within limits of their professional competence
- Responsible Reporting: Provide accurate and complete reports of assessment findings
- Cultural Sensitivity: Consider cultural factors when choosing tests and interpreting results
- Honesty: Be honest and transparent about the purpose and limitations of the assessment
- Professional Boundaries: Maintain professional boundaries in their interactions with assesses
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of psychological testing, including how tests are designed to measure behavior and predict future actions. Understand the distinctions between educational testing and psychological assessments, and learn about scales used for interpreting test results.
