Chapter 1 Ms.
Rushna Siddiqui
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
JINNAH UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN
Course Title:
Psychological Assessment
Course Code:
PSY-4252
Course Incharge:
MS.RUSHNA SIDDIQUI
Associate Clinical Psychologist & Cooperative Lecturer
Page 1 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
Topic Overview:
1. Psychological Test
a. Definition and nature of psychological test
b. Uses and types of psychological test
c. Psychological test and assessment
d. Ethical, legal and professional issues in assessment
Objectives:
Objective of this chapter is to develop an understanding about the nature and types of psychological tests
among students.
Page 2 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
Definition
Psychological tests are written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive
and emotional functioning of children and adults.
Nature of Psychological Tests
Psychological tests are used to assess a variety of mental abilities and attributes, including
achievement and ability, personality, and neurological functioning.
For children, academic achievement, ability, and intelligence tests may be used as tools in
school placement, in determining the presence of a learning disability or a developmental
delay , in identifying giftedness, or in tracking intellectual development. Intelligence testing may
also be used with teens and young adults to determine vocational ability (e.g., in career
counseling).
Personality tests are administered for a wide variety of reasons, from diagnosing
psychopathology (e.g., personality disorder, depressive disorder) to screening job candidates.
They may be used in an educational setting to determine personality strengths and weaknesses.
Uses & Types of Psychological Tests
Psychological tests are formalized measures of mental functioning. Most are objective and
quantifiable; however, certain projective tests may involve some level of subjective
interpretation. Also known as inventories, measurements, questionnaires, and scales,
psychological tests are administered in a variety of settings, including preschools, primary and
secondary schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, outpatient healthcare settings, and social
agencies. They come in a variety of formats, including written, verbal, and computer
administered.
Achievement and ability tests
Achievement and ability tests are designed to measure the level of a child's intellectual
functioning and cognitive ability. Most achievement and ability tests are standardized, meaning
that norms were established during the design phase of the test by administering the test to a
large representative sample of the test population. Achievement and ability tests follow a
uniform testing protocol, or procedure (i.e., test instructions, test conditions, and scoring
procedures) and their scores can be interpreted in relation to established norms. Common
achievement and ability tests include the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-III) and
the Stanford-Binet intelligence scales .
Personality tests
Personality tests and inventories evaluate the thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behavioral traits
that comprise personality. The results of these tests can help determine a child's personality
strengths and weaknesses, and may identify certain disturbances in personality, or
psychopathology. Type of personality test is the projective personality assessment . A projective
test asks a child to interpret some ambiguous stimuli, such as a series of inkblots. The child's
responses provide insight into his or her thought processes and personality traits. For example,
Page 3 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), asks the child to tell a story about a series of pictures.
Some consider projective tests to be less reliable than objective personality tests. If the examiner
is not well-trained in psychometric evaluation, subjective interpretations may affect the
evaluation of these tests.
Neuropsychological tests
Children and adolescents who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, brain damage, or other
organic neurological problems, are administered neuropsychological tests to assess their level of
functioning and identify areas of mental impairment. Neuropsychological tests may also be used
to evaluate the progress of a patient who has undergone treatment or rehabilitation for a
neurological injury or illness. In addition, certain neuropsychological measures may be used to
screen children for developmental delays and/or learning disabilities.
Precautions
Psychological testing requires a clinically trained examiner. All psychological tests should be
administered, scored, and interpreted by a trained professional, preferably a psychologist or
psychiatrist with expertise in the appropriate area.
Psychological tests are only one element of a psychological assessment. They should never be
used as the sole basis for a diagnosis. A detailed clinical and personal history of the child and a
review of psychological, medical, educational, or other relevant records are required to lay the
groundwork for interpreting the results of any psychological measurement.
Cultural and language differences among children may affect test performance and may result in
inaccurate test results. The test administrator should be informed before psychological testing
begins if the test taker is not fluent in English and/or belongs to a minority culture. In addition,
the child's level of motivation may also affect test results.
Prior to the administration of any psychological test, the administrator should provide the child
and the child's parent with information on the nature of the test and its intended use, complete
standardized instructions for taking the test (including any time limits and penalties for incorrect
responses), and information on the confidentiality of the results. After these disclosures are
made, informed consent should be obtained from the child (as appropriate) and the child's parent
before testing begins.
Ethical, Legal & Professional Issues in Assessment
Page 4 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
Page 5 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
Page 6 of 7
Chapter 1 Ms.Rushna Siddiqui
References
http://www.healthofchildren.com/P/Psychological-Tests.html
https://www.chegg.com/flashcards/chapter-2-ethical-legal-and-professional-issues-in-
assessment-c85631b2-b1fb-4517-b24b-6ac1913370d8/deck
Page 7 of 7
