Psychological Testing

And Assessment Testing in Contrast to Assessment

An Introduction

Can Psychological Properties Be Measured?

• A common complaint: Psychological variables can’t be
measured.

• All fields of human endeavor use measurement in some

form, and each field has its own set of measuring tools
and measuring units.

• We regularly make judgments about who is shy and

who isn’t; who is attractive and who isn’t; who is smart
and who is not.

Why is Psychological Testing Important?

1. Allows us to make important decisions about people.
e.g. Early School Placement, College Entrance Decisions,
Military Job Selections
2. Allows us to describe & understand behaviour
3. Measures personal attributes
4. Measures performance
5. Saves time
6. Most economical
7. It’s Scientific
Keep in mind that, although these are useful distinctions
Psychological Testing and Assessment Defined to consider, exceptions can always be found.
- The semantic distinction between psychological testing
and psychological assessment is blurred in everyday The Process of Assessment
conversation. Somewhat surprisingly, the distinction
between the two terms remains blurred even in edition - In general, the process of assessment begins with a
after edition of some published “psychological testing” referral for assessment from an individual or a source,
textbooks. Yet the distinction is important. Third parties, such as a teacher, a school psychologist,
a counselor, a judge, a clinician, or a corporate human
- Psychological Assessment is the gathering and resources specialist.
integration of psychology-related data for the purpose
of making a psychological evaluation that is - Typically, one or more referral questions are put to the
accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, assessor about the assessee.
interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and
specially designed apparatuses and measurement Assessment Task In Different Ways
procedures.
- Dynamic assessment, notably in educational setting,
- Psychological testing is the process of measuring refers to an interactive approach to psychological
psychology-related variables by means of devices or assessment that usually follows a model of (1)
procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior. evaluation, (2) intervention of some sort, and (3)
evaluation.
- it may be employed in correctional, corporate,
neuropsychological, clinical, and most any other setting
as well.

Tools of Psychological Assessment

- The Test
- The Interview task, interview, or some other sample of
- The Portfolio behavior.
- Case History Data
- Behavioral Observation o Scoring is the process of assigning such
- Role-Play Tests evaluative codes or statements to performance
- Computers as Tools on tests, tasks, interviews, or other behavior
- Others samples.

Test o A cut score (also referred to as a cutoff score or

- test may be defined simply as a measuring device or simply a cutoff) is a reference point, usually
procedure. numerical, derived by judgment and used to
divide a set of data into two or more
- Psychological Test refers to a device or procedure classifications. Pass or Fail?
designed to measure variables related to psychology
(for example, intelligence, personality, aptitude, - technical quality
interests, attitudes, and values). o psychometric soundness of a test- referring to
o Psychological tests and other tools of how consistently and how accurately a
assessment may differ with respect to a number psychological test measures what it purports to
of variables such as (a) content, (b) format, (c) measure.
administration procedures, (d) scoring and
interpretation procedures, and (e) technical - Assessment professionals also speak of the
quality. psychometric utility of a particular test or assessment
method
- Content (subject matter) of the test will, of course, vary o Utility refers to the usefulness or practical value
with the focus of the particular test. But even two that a test or assessment technique has for a
psychological tests purporting to measure the same particular purpose.
thing—for example, personality —may differ widely in
item content. - Psychometrics may be defined as the science of
o An item is a specific stimulus to which a person psychological measurement.
responds overtly; this response can be scored or
evaluated (for example, classified, graded on a o psychometric (which refers to measurement
scale, or counted). that is psychological in nature)

- Format pertains to the form, plan, structure, o the nouns psychometrist and psychometrician
arrangement, and layout of test items as well as to (both referring to psychological test users).
related considerations such as time limits.
o Format is also used to refer to the form in which - Test Classification Methods
a test is administered: computerized, pencil-and- a. Maximal Performance, Behavior Observation, or
paper, or some other form. Self-Report
b. Standardized or nonstandardized
- Test administration may involve demonstration of c. Objective or Projective
various kinds of tasks on the part of the assessee as well
as trained observation of an assessee’s performance. - Maximal Performance
o Require test takers to perform a particular well-
- Tests differ in their administration procedures defined task
o one-to-one basis, may require an active and o Ex. Intelligence test, test of specific abilities,
knowledgeable test administrator. driving test, classroom test
o groups, may not even require the test
administrator to be present while the test takers - Behavior Observation
independently do whatever it is the test o Observing people’s behavior and how they
requires. typically respond in a particular context

- Scoring and Interpretation Procedures - Self-Report

o score as a code or summary statement, usually o Require test takers to report or describe their
but not necessarily numerical in nature, that feeling, beliefs, opinions, or mental states.
reflects an evaluation of performance on a test,
- Standardized
o Have been administered to a homogenous large
group with specific administration and scoring

- Non Standardized
o More common
o Constructed in a less formal manner

Types of test

Objective
- Individual Tests vs. Group Tests - Structured and require test takers to respond to
o Individual tests: test administrator gives a test to structured true/false, multiple choice, or rating scales
a single person
e.g. WAIS-III, MMPI-2 Projective
- Unstructured
o Group tests: single examiner gives a test to a - Require test takers to respond to unstructured or
group of people ambiguous stimuli such as uncomplete sentences,
e.g. SAT, GRE inkblots, and abstract pictures.

- (Human) Ability Tests Interview

o Achievement Tests
§ evaluates what an individual has learned - Interview, in a broadest sense, as a method of
§ measures prior activity gathering information through direct communication
involving reciprocal exchange.
- Aptitude Tests
o evaluates what an individual is capable of - the interviewer is taking note of both verbal and
learning nonverbal behavior.
o measures capacity or future potential
- Interviews differ with regard to many variables, such as
- Intelligence Tests their purpose, length, and nature.
o Measures a person’s general potential to solve
problems, adapt to novel situations and profit Portfolio
from experience.
- Portfolio are work products—whether retained on
- Personality Tests: Objective & Projective paper, canvas, film, video, audio, or some other
o Objective Personality Tests- present specific medium—constitute.
stimuli and ask for specific responses (e.g.
true/false questions) . Case History Data
o Projective Personality Tests- present more
ambiguous stimuli and ask for less specific - Case history data refers to records, transcripts, and
responses (e.g. inkblots, drawings, photographs, other accounts in written, pictorial, or other form that
Rorschach, TAT). preserve archival information, official and informal
accounts, and other data and items relevant to an
assessee.
- Another use of the term case history, one synonymous Others
with case study, concerns the assembly of case history
data into an illustrative account. - Video
- Medical equipment
Behavioral Observation - Natural sciences equipment

- Behavioral observation, as it is employed by - In general, there has been no shortage of innovation on

assessment professionals, may be defined as the part of psychologists in devising measurement
monitoring the actions of others or oneself by visual or tools, or adapting existing tools, for use in psychological
electronic means while recording quantitative and/or assessment.
qualitative information regarding the actions.
o may be done in a natural setting or controlled Who, What, Why, How, and Where?
laboratory setting.
- Who Are the Parties?
Role-Play Test - In What Types of Settings Are Assessments
- Conducted, and Why?
- Role Play- acting an improvised or partially improvised - How Are Assessments Conducted?
part in a simulated situation. - Where to Go for Authoritative Information:
Reference Sources
- Role-Play Test- a tool of assessment wherein assessee
is directed to act as if they were in particular situation. Who are the Parties?
o used in various clinical contexts (ex. For
substance abusers) - The Test Developer
o create tests or other methods of assessment.
Computers o according to APA, there are more than 20,000 new
psychological tests that are being developed each
- it may help a lot in test administration, scoring and year.
interpretation.
- The Test User
- Scoring may be done on-site (local processing) or o qualified people who use psychological tests and
conducted at some central location (central assessment methodologies such as clinicians,
processing). counsellors, school psychologists, human
resources personnel, consumer psychologists,
Types of reporting experimental psychologists, and social
psychologists.
- Interpretative - inclusion of numerical or narrative § however, who are qualified to use
interpretive statements in the report. psychological tests has generated a great
deal of debate.
- Consultative - usually written in language appropriate
for communication between assessment professionals, - The Test Taker
may provide expert opinion concerning analysis of the o anyone who is the subject of an assessment or an
data. evaluation.
o Test takers might vary with respect to numerous
- Integrative - employ previously collected data (such as variables such as:
medication records or behavioral observation data) o Amount of anxiety
into the test report. o Extent of understanding of the rationale of the
assessment
- The acronym CAPA refers to the term computer o Willingness to cooperate
assisted psychological assessment. o Amount of physical pain and emotional
distress
- By the way, here the word assisted typically refers to o Physical discomfort (ex. Hunger, too much
the assistance computers provide to the test user, not eating before the test)
the testtaker. o Alertness and being awake
o Extent if one received prior coaching
o Lighting
o “I’m lucky” and “I can beat the odds” boasting
 Settings where Assessment is
Conducted

o Educational
o Clinical
o Counselling
o Developmental
o Business
o Military
o Governmental and organizational credentialing
o Research

How Are Assessments Conducted?

- The test administrator (or examiner) must be familiar

with the test materials and procedures and must have
at the test site all the materials needed to properly
administer the test.

- might include a stopwatch, a supply of pencils, and a

sufficient number of test protocols.

- Protocol refers to the form or sheet or booklet on

which the testtaker’s responses are entered.

- Assessment of people with disabilities

o People with disabilities are assessed for exactly
the same reasons that people with no disabilities
are assessed: to obtain employment, to earn a
professional credential, to be screened for
psychopathology, and so forth.

- Alternate assessment is an evaluative or diagnostic Reference Sources

procedure or process that varies from the usual,
- Test Catalogues
customary, or standardized way a measurement is
- Test Manuals
derived either by virtue of some special
- Reference Volumes ( ex. Mental Measurement
accommodation made to the assessee or by means of
alternative methods designed to measure the same
- Yearbook)
variable(s). - Journal Articles (ex. PsycINFO, ERIC)
o In the context of psychological testing and - Online Databases
assessment, accommodation may be defined as
the adaptation of a test, procedure, or situation,
or the substitution of one test for another, to
make the assessment more suitable for an
assessee with exceptional needs.

Guidelines for Accommodating Test

Takers with Disabilities