Introduction to Psychoogical Testing

Introduction to Psychological Testing

Denise Greene

PSY475

December 17, 2012

John Papazafiropoulos

Introduction to Psychological Testing

Humans are individuals with traits or characteristics that can be assessed, are somewhat stable, and relate to individual behavior. Psychological testing in its many forms can provide a better understanding of individual cognition, personality, knowledge, and potential. “These tests can evaluate ability, such as intelligence, aptitudes, skills and achievement; personality characteristics, such as traits, attitudes, interests and values; and mental health, such as psychological functioning or signs of psychological or neurological disorders” (American Psychological Association, 2012, para. 1). The following will discuss the definition of test, the categories and uses of psychological testing, and the concepts of reliability and validity as they pertain to psychological testing.

Test Defined

The word “test” in the psychological context refers to a scientific technique used for assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis (Muniz & Bartram, 2007). Psychological testing (often referred to as psychological assessment) is the foundation of a better understanding of an individual and his or her behavior and can identify an individual’s strengths and weaknesses (Framingham, 2011). A psychological test is a set of stimuli is administered to obtain a behavior sample (Silverman, 1990). A psychological test can be administered to an individual or a group. The two types of psychological tests are objective and projective. An objective test is composed of a structured set of instructions; a projective test is administered more ambiguously to allow interpretation from the individual or group of individuals (Silverman, 1990).

According to Silverman (1990), most psychological tests are given as part of series of assessments and evaluations because the administration of one test only is not sufficient in a clinical situation. The need and...