Psychology Chapter 5 Quiz

Introduction to Psychological Assessment

• Psychological assessment is a broad concept encompassing a range of tools and methods for gathering information about individuals.
• This includes tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observations, and specially designed tools to evaluate various psychological attributes.

BLEPP Table of Specifications

• The BLEPP Board Exam prioritizes different topics for Psychologists and Psychometricians.
• Psychologists: Counseling and psychotherapy, Advanced psychological assessment, Advanced theories of personality, and Advanced abnormal psychology hold different weights in the exam.
• Psychometricians: Psychological assessment, Theories of personality, abnormal psychology, and Industrial psychology have specific weights.

BLEPP Table of Specifications (Page 3)

• The table details how different outcomes of psychological assessment are weighed.
• Outcomes involve application of concepts and principles in measurement, process descriptions using research and statistics in test development, importance, benefits, and limitations of assessment.
• Methods and tools to conduct assessments in various contexts (e.g., school, hospital) also fall under specific weighting schemes.
• Evaluation of tests like intelligence and personality also contributes to the outcome evaluation.
• Ethical considerations within different psychological assessment dimensions are also considered.

Reference Materials

• Key resources for further study, including books and materials authored by various scholars and practitioners are listed, such as Psychological Testing and Assessment (Cohen & Swerdlik).

Measurement in Psychology

• Measurement in psychology is crucial to establish a baseline and facilitate the understanding of psychological processes.

Psychological Testing vs. Assessment

• Testing: A specific type of assessment that typically involves numerical data to evaluate abilities and traits.
• Assessment: A broader procedure for gathering and integrating various data sources for in-depth evaluation.

What is a Test?

• Assessment refers to processes used to gather information about people,
• A test is a specific form of assessment using organized procedures to quantify information.
• Tests utilize specific and systematic procedures, scoring, and behavioral sampling.

Use of Specific or Systematic Procedures

• Tests must involve selecting relevant items and defining clear administration protocols.
• Developing a systematic scoring and interpretation approach is essential for accurate analysis.

Scoring of Responses

• Objective Scoring: Comparing responses to a pre-defined list of possible answers directly quantifies results.
• Subjective Scoring: Evaluating responses based on established scoring criteria with room for interpretation.

Sample of Behavior

• Tests often provide a sample of behaviors and responses, which should serve as representative indicators.

Psychological Testing: Definitions

• Testing: Covers the process from test administration to interpretation of scores.
• Psychological testing: Measuring psychological variables through specific tools that collect behavioral samples.

Psychological Testing vs. Assessment (Page 14)

• Testing: Data gathering, often numeric, and focused on simple results that involve minimal evaluator input.
• Assessment: Procedures to address specific questions, including in-depth analysis of data for comprehensive understanding, with evaluator input.

Process of Assessment

• The process systematically progresses from initial referral to formal assessment and report writing, including various components and tools employed.

Approaches to Assessment

• Collaborative Assessment: A collaborative partnership between the assessor and assessee from start to finish.
• Therapeutic Assessment: Incorporates therapy to encourage self-discovery during the process.
• Dynamic assessment: An interactive method that incorporates and follows a model that involves evaluation, intervention, and subsequent reassessment.

Tools of Psychological Assessment

• Various tools, including tests, interviews, portfolios, case history data, behavioral observations, role-play tests, and computer-based methods.

The Test

• A test is any quantifiable device or procedure used to measure relevant psychological variables.
• Psychological tests differ from medical tests in that they are designed to measure psychological variables rather than physical ones. The testing can be oral, written or involve performance tasks.

Psychological Test: Differences (page 26)

• The distinction focuses on content (subject matter), format (structure and administration), administration procedures (individual or group), scoring procedures (objective or subjective), and technical quality (psychometric soundness).

Format

• Format refers to the structure and arrangement of items, time limitations, tools, conditions of administration.

Administration Procedures

• This includes methods of administration (individual or group based), necessary skills, and knowledge.

Scoring and Interpretation Procedures

• Coding or summary statements summarize the results of testing.
• Scoring involves assigning evaluative codes based on performance on a test, task, interview or other behavioral sample data.

Types of Scores

• Cut-off scores are numerical reference points used to classify variables into categories.

Technical Quality (Psychometric Soundness)

• Psychometrics are involved in the science of psychological measurement, covering topics like validity, reliability, and utility.

The Interview

• More than just a conversation, an interview explores verbal and nonverbal communication, providing valuable insight into the subject's thought process.
• Formats like body language analysis and interviews (phone, panel) are considered for the process.

The Portfolio

• The portfolio comprises samples of a subject's work, including visual arts, creative works, and other relevant examples.

Case History Data

• Case history data consists of a comprehensive record of a subject's history and pertinent information relevant to the evaluation process.
• This can be from various sources, official documents, written correspondence, or even informal narratives.

Behavioral Observation

• Behavioral observation involves visually or electronically recording actions and behavioral patterns to extract qualitative and quantitative information.
• Naturalistic observation takes place in a subject's natural environment, while controlled observation takes place in a setting more conducive to structured and recorded observation.

Role-play Tests

• Role-playing tests assess individuals' reactions and behaviors as they act in simulated situations.

Other Tools

• Various methods like fable assessment, reenactments, the use of social media, and biofeedback are used in a variety of psychological assessment procedures.

Parties Involved in Testing

• Test developer: Creates and distributes psychological instruments.
• Test user: Professionals skilled in evaluating abilities and traits.
• Test taker: Individuals under evaluation.
• Society-at-large: Institutional and governmental bodies that influence the types of tests used.
• Companies and organizations: Utilize tests to gauge competency or make decisions.

Test Categories

• Tests are categorized by their objectives—classifying individuals, promoting self-understanding, performing program evaluation, and engaging in scientific inquiry.

Uses of Tests

• Tests can serve various purposes, including placement, rating, selection, competency and proficiency assessment, diagnostic evaluation, prediction of behavior, and outcome evaluation.

Psychological Testing Settings

• Educational, clinical, counseling, geriatric, business/military, and governmental/organizational settings make use of psychological testing for appropriate purposes.

How Psychological Assessment Is Conducted

• Testing adheres to established standards, while responsible test administrators have obligations before, during, and after every testing stage of procedures.

Pre-Test Preparations

• Proper test administration procedures focus on the aspects of safekeeping, administrator training, test/material familiarity, and assessment environment preparation.

During the Testing

• Establishing a collaborative rapport, or working relationship between evaluator and assessee, is essential during the testing process.

Post-Test Responsibilities

• Post-Assessment includes safeguarding protocols, scoring, interpretation, thorough record-keeping, and conveying results.

Assessment of People with Disabilities

• Alternate Assessments are needed for individuals with disabilities to determine their skills, behaviors, and other characteristics in unique ways.

Alternate Assessment Procedures

• Alternate assessment procedures are designed to suit the individual needs of each person being evaluated.

Getting Information on Tests

• Researchers obtain information by using test catalogues, manuals, reference materials, journal articles, on-line databases, library resources to find relevant research.

Characteristics of a Good Psychological Test

• Good tests have specific characteristics concerning design and psychometric properties, notably purpose, content, administration procedures, reliability, validity, item statistics, and objectivity.

Measuring Psychological Characteristics

• Measuring psychological traits is less precise than other types of measurement due to extraneous variables, requiring a less direct or more inferential approach.

Pros and Cons of Psychological Testing

• Advantages of psychological testing—practicality, thoroughness.
• Disadvantages—inaccuracies, misuse, prejudice.

Problems with Psychological Testing

• Misuse or misunderstanding of psychological tests or scores and inaccurate bias against certain groups lead to ineffective results in addition to the invasive effect on one's privacy.

Historical Perspective

• The use of methods from centuries past informs modern assessment practices, offering diverse approaches.
• Examples of historical examples of tests and testing include those in ancient China.
• The rise of psychometrics provided methods including measurement of human abilities.
• The origins of intelligence testing, tests of personality, and the evolution of assessment—from physical measures to behavioral samples are all considered.