Terman-Merrill Test: Intelligence Assessment

• The following tests are commonly used to assess intelligence, personality, and perceptual abilities in both children and adults

Terman-Merrill Test

• Type: Intelligence test
• Author: Lewis Terman and Maud Merrill
• Objective: Measures intelligence quotient (IQ) in children and adults and evaluates verbal, numerical reasoning, memory, and abstract skills
• Structure: Based on the Stanford-Binet scale and includes various subtests to evaluate cognitive abilities
• Population: Children, adolescents, and adults
• Application: Individual
• Time: Variable, approximately 30-90 minutes
• Interpretation: IQ is obtained with an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15
• Example Question: If a train travels at 80 km/h and covers 240 km, how long will it take to reach its destination? It measures numerical and verbal skills
• Measured Scales:
• Verbal Reasoning: Assesses comprehension of words, synonyms, and analogies
• Numerical Reasoning: Assesses mathematical operations and arithmetic problem-solving skills
• Memory and Attention: Assesses the ability to remember sequences of numbers or words
• Abstract Reasoning: Assesses relationship between figures or concepts
• Processing Speed: Assesses time taken to solve problems

Raven's Progressive Matrices Test

• Type: Non-verbal intelligence test
• Author: John C. Raven
• Objective: Evaluates abstract reasoning ability and fluid intelligence
• Structure: Involves a series of incomplete matrices where the subject must choose the correct option to complete the series
• Versions:
• General Scale
• Colored Scale: For children and individuals with cognitive difficulties
• Advanced Scale: For individuals with high intellectual capacity
• Population: Children, adolescents, and adults
• Application: Invidual group
• Time: 30-60 mins
• Interpretation: Based on comparative percentiles according to established standards
• Example Question: A series of geometric figures with a missing part is presented, and the subject must select the correct option to complete the series, measures abstract reasoning and logic skills
• Measured Scales:
• Fluid Intelligence: Assesses the ability to solve new problems without prior knowledge
• Abstract Reasoning: Assesses the identification of patterns in figures
• Visuospatial Ability: Assesses the ability to mentally manipulate shapes and objects

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

• Type: Projective personality test
• Author: Henry Murray and Christiana Morgan
• Objective: Evaluates personality, emotions, motivations, and internal conflicts
• Structure: Consists of 31 cards with ambiguous images (10-12 are applied) and the subject must narrate a story about what they see in each card
• Population: Adolescents and adults
• Application: Individual
• Time: Variable, approximately 60 minutes
• Interpretation: Qualitative analysis is based on the themes, emotions, and outcomes of the stories
• Example Question: An image with an ambiguous scene is shown (for example, a person looking out the window), and the subject is asked what is happening in the scene and measures motivations, and emotional dynamics
• Projective Scales Analyzed:
• Motivations and Needs: Assesses the need for achievement, affiliation, and recognition
• Internal Conflicts: Assesses anxieties, fears, and insecurities
• Perception of Relationships: Assesses how one sees oneself and others
• Structure of Thought: Assesses logical or disorganized thinking in the narrated stories

Children's Apperception Test (CAT)

• Type: Projective test for children
• Author: Leopold Bellak and Sonya Sorel Bellak
• Objective: Assesses perception, emotions, and conflicts in children
• Structure: Similar to the TAT, but adapted for children with cards featuring social and familial scenes
• Population: Children between 3 and 10 years old
• Application: Individual
• Time: 30-60 minutes
• Interpretation: Evaluation of the stories in terms of conflicts, desires, and defense mechanisms
• Example Question: An image with a familiar scene is shown and measures perception of the family environment
• Measured Scales:
• Family and Social Relationships: Assesses perception of parents, siblings, and friends
• Emotional Conflicts: Assesses anxiety, fears, and repressed feelings
• Defense mechanisms: Assesses projection, negation, displacement
• Expression Ability: Assesses language and construction of narratives

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

• Type: Personality test
• Author: Starke Hathaway and J. Charnley McKinley
• Objective: Evaluates personality traits and detects possible psychopathologies
• Structure: The original version (MMPI-2) contains 567 items, and the reduced version (MMPI-2-RF) contains 338 items
• Population: Adolescents and adults
• Application: Individual or group
• Time: 60-90 minutes
• Interpretation: Results are based on T-scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10
• Example Question: "I like to be alone in most social situations," measures traits like introversion, impulsivity etc
• Measured Scales:
• Clinical Scales: Depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, etc.
• Validity Scales: Lying, inconsistency, etc.
• Clinical Scales:
• Hypochondria (Hs): Excessive concern about health
• Depression (D): Low mood, hopelessness
• Hysteria (Hy): Exaggerated response to stress
• Psychopathic Deviation (Pd): Antisocial behavior, rebellion
• Masculinity-Femininity (Mf): Gender roles and interests
• Paranoia (Pa): Suspicion, extreme mistrust
• Psychasthenia (Pt): Anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions
• Schizophrenia (Sc): Disorganized thinking, delusions
• Hypomania (Ma): Excessive energy, impulsivity
• Social Introversion (Si): Shyness, isolation
• Validity Scales:
• L (Lie): Detects answers that are too "perfect" or socially desirable
• F (Frequency): Identifies unusual or exaggerated answers
• K (Correction): Assesses defensiveness and denial of problems