Brief History of Psychological Assessments PDF

Brief History of Psychological Assessments BY:ENGRID MANALOTO, RPM. THE CHINESE DYNASTY  Early Beginnings Origins (circa 2200 BCE): The roots of psychological assessment in China can be found in the early governmental practices where officials were evaluated every three years to d...

Brief History of Psychological Assessments BY:ENGRID MANALOTO, RPM. THE CHINESE DYNASTY  Early Beginnings Origins (circa 2200 BCE): The roots of psychological assessment in China can be found in the early governmental practices where officials were evaluated every three years to determine their fitness for office. This rudimentary form of testing was based on individual abilities rather than inherited privilege Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE): The formalization of the examination system began during the Han Dynasty, initiated by Emperor Gaozu. He established a civil service that required candidates to pass rigorous tests, which assessed their knowledge of Confucian texts, laws, and governance. This marked the beginning of organized testing in China Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE): The first comprehensive civil service examinations were conducted during this period. These exams became a critical mechanism for selecting government officials and were characterized by their complexity and the extensive knowledge required to pass  Development and Evolution Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE): The examination system was fully revived, becoming more structured with multiple levels of testing. Candidates faced intense competition, as success in these exams could elevate them from any social class to the gentry class of scholar-officials Cultural Impact: The examination system not only served administrative purposes but also influenced educational practices and societal values, emphasizing meritocracy over aristocracy. It laid the groundwork for later developments in psychological assessment by highlighting the importance of individual capabilities  Modern Psychological Testing Early 20th Century: Modern psychological testing began to emerge in China around 1915 with the introduction of standardized tests adapted from Western models. Scholars like Creighton and Yu Ziyi contributed significantly to this movement by translating and developing tests tailored for Chinese populations China Testing Society (1931): This organization was established to promote psychological measurement and testing methods. By the late 1930s, about 20 standardized intelligence tests had been developed, reflecting a burgeoning interest in psychological assessment  James Catell Mental Tests: Cattell developed a series of mental tests that assessed reaction times and sensory discrimination, aiming to provide objective measurements of psychological constructs Standardization: He advocated for the standardization of psychological assessments, which became foundational in psychometric practices. He emphasized the importance of quantitative methods, arguing that psychology s hould adopt experimental approaches akin to those used in the natural sciences He invented the concept of factor analysis in understanding the concept of 1behavior. Factor Analysis  Binet Simon Scale In collaboration with Théodore Simon, Alfred Binet developed a series of tasks designed to measure various cognitive abilities, such as reasoning, judgment, and memory. The first version of their intelligence test was published in 1905, with subsequent revisions in 1908 and 1911. The test involved age-appropriate tasks; for example, if 70% of 8-year-olds could complete a specific task, that task was deemed appropriate for assessing an 8-year-old's intelligence level  Key Concepts of Binet Simon Scale Mental Age: Binet introduced the concept of "mental age," which compares a child's performance on tasks to the average performance of children at various ages. Qualitative Assessment: Binet emphasized that intelligence is not merely a fixed trait but can be influenced by environmental factors. He advocated for both qualitative and quantitative measures in assessing intelligence The primary aim of the Binet-Simon scale was to identify children who needed special educational support rather than labeling them as intellectually deficient.  Robert S. Woodworth Woodworth Personal Data Sheet (WPDS) Development of the WPDS: Created in response to the need for reliable screening methods during WWI, the WPDS sought to assess recruits' emotional stability. Although it was not operationally used during the war, it laid the groundwork for future personality assessments, influencing tools like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Woodworth's approach included a series of yes/no questions designed to objectively assess psychological states, moving away from purely subjective evaluations prevalent at the time  Robert S. Woodworth Limitations of the WPDS Validity and Reliability Issues: While groundbreaking, the WPDS faced criticisms regarding its validity and reliability. It relied heavily on self- reporting, which could be affected by biases such as social desirability12. Furthermore, its narrow focus on emotional stability limited its applicability across diverse populations. Lack of Standardization: The WPDS did not employ standardized scoring procedures, making it challenging to compare results across different individuals or groups. This lack of consistency undermines the reliability of the test results  Projective Testing Projective testing is a psychological assessment method that employs ambiguous stimuli to elicit responses that reveal an individual's subconscious thoughts, feelings, and conflicts. Ambiguity This ambiguity encourages respondents to interpret the stimuli in a way that reflects their personal experiences and emotions  Projective Testing Type of Tests Rorschach Inkblot Test: Respondents describe what they see in a series of inkblots, with interpretations analyzed for themes related to personality. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Individuals create stories based on ambiguous pictures, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings through narrative construction. Draw-A-Person Test: Participants draw a person, which is then analyzed for insights into their self-image and emotional state  Projective Testing Criticism Lack of Objectivity Projective tests are often criticized for their subjectivity. The interpretation of responses heavily relies on the examiner's skills and biases, Insufficient Standardization Reliability and Validity Concerns Time Consumption  Projective Testing Criticism Lack of Objectivity Projective tests are often criticized for their subjectivity. The interpretation of responses heavily relies on the examiner's skills and biases, Insufficient Standardization Reliability and Validity Concerns Time Consumption THANK YOU!