PSYASS - FINAL PERIOD (COMPILATION)

Personality

The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to the environment.

Personality

Unique constellation of psychological states and traits.

Trait

Relatively enduring

State

Relatively temporary, very situational

• Self-perception

• Strengths and weaknesses

• Interests

Why assess personality traits? (3)

• Values system

• Acculturation v. Identity

• Relation to group

• Individualistic v. Collectivistic

• Translation issue

Culturally relevant issues (5)

Logical approach

MAJOR APPROACHES OF VARIOUS PERSONALITY TESTS

• Content-related validation

• Insight into content

• Direct questioning

Theoretical approach

MAJOR APPROACHES OF VARIOUS PERSONALITY TESTS

• Based on theory

• Intended to assess personality type

Data reduction

MAJOR APPROACHES OF VARIOUS PERSONALITY TESTS

• Factor analysis

• Identify observed dimensions of personality

Criterion groups

MAJOR APPROACHES OF VARIOUS PERSONALITY TESTS

• Use of reference groups

• Compare criterion (trait) and control groups (non-trait)

Empirical criterion keying

MAJOR APPROACHES OF VARIOUS PERSONALITY TESTS

• Scoring key

• Divergent validity

• Items

• Woodworth Personal Data Sheet

• Mooney Problem Checklist

• Symptom Checklist 90-R

Examples of tests with Logical Approach (3)

• Face validity

• Self-report

• Statistical analyses

Limits of Logical Approach (3)

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

• Edwards Personality Preference Scale

• Self-Directed Search

• Ipsative samples

Examples of tests with Theoretical Approach (4)

• Ipsative scales are relative

• Interpretations appear arbitrary (seems random or by chance)

Limits of Theoretical Approach (3)

• 16 PF Personality Factors (Cattell)

• Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey

• NEO Personality Inventory-Revised

Examples of tests with Data Reduction (3)

• Subjective identification of factors

• Emphasis on grouping of variables

• Focus of common variance

Limits of Data Reduction (3)

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2 MMPI - 2

Example of tests with Criterion Groups and Empirical Criterion Keying (1)

Objective methods

• Self-report short-answer item

• Structured scoring system

• Emphasize reliability and validity

• MMPI-A (Adolescent)

• State Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI

Examples of tests with Objective Method (2)

MMPI

• Originally intended for differential diagnosis

• Tentative hypothesis of psychopathology

MMPI2

• 1989 major restandardization

• 567 items - True, False, Cannot Say responses

• No repeated items 14% of items changed, 107 new items

MMPI2 Scales

• Multidimensional since scales overlap

• Six validity scales

• Ten Clinical Scales

• Supplementary Scales

MMPI 2 Psychometric properties

• Reliability

• Validity

  • Convergence

  • Discriminant

MMPI2 Limitations

• Self-report

• Impression management

• Response style

  • Social desirability: seen in a favorable light

• Faking good

• Faking bad

  • Malingering

Counselling settings

In _______________________, psychologists may use a wide variety of assessment tools to help determine not only the occupation of the person but also their suitability for that occupation.

Biopsychosocial assessment

Is a multidisciplinary approach to assessment that includes exploration of relevant biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental variables for the purpose of evaluating how such variables contributed to the development and maintenance of a presenting problem.

Interview in clinical assessment

Usually conducted face-to-face, an interviewer learn the person not only from what they say but from how they also say it and how they present themselves during the interview.

Therapeutic contract

Agreement between the client and therapist/counselor, setting forth goals, expectations, and mutual obligations with regard to the course of therapy.

Types of Interviews (2)

• Structured

• Unstructured

Examples of Structured Interview (3)

• Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID)

• Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS)

• Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms-2 (SIRS2; Rogers et al., 2010)

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID)

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Is a semi structured interview designed to assist clinicians and researchers in diagnostic decision-making.

Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS)

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Is a standardized interview designed to detect schizophrenia and disorders of affect (such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders).

The Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms-2 (SIRS-2)

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Is used primarily in efforts to detect malingering.

Stress interview

Is the general name applied to any interview where one objective is to place the interviewee in a pressured state for some particular reason. Screening for work in the security or intelligence fields might entail __________________.

Hypnotic interview

Conducted while the interviewee is under hypnosis. Face a lot of criticism.

Cognitive interview

Rapport is established and the interviewee is encouraged to use imagery and focused retrieval to recall information. Incorporated in police interviewing in the UK since 2009.

Collaborative interview

Allows the interviewee wide latitude to interact with the interviewer.

Mental Status Examination

Used to screen for intellectual, emotional, and neurological deficits, typically includes questioning or observation.

Case history data

Biographical and related data about an assessee may be obtained by interviewing the assessee and/or significant others in that person’s life.

Examples of Case History Data (4)

• Hospital records

• School records

• Military records

• Employment records and other related documents

Psychological tests

Tests assist clinicians and counselors in their practice, particularly in clinical or counseling assessments.

Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

Assists clinicians in making diagnosis based on multiaxial DSM.

Beck Depression Inventory - II

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

Is widely used to measure the severity of depression. It is a self-report measure consisting of 21 items, each tapping a specific symptom or attitude associated with depression.

Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale (CES - D)

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

A self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Santos et al. (1995) compared BDI and _____, results showed that _____ has more discriminating in determining symptoms severity in both college and depressed outpatient samples.

Personality test battery

Refers to a battery of test for personality as well as projective test battery.

Standard test battery

Is what clinicians refer to as a battery of test that consist of at least one personality test, one intelligence test, and a test to screen for neurological deficits.

Test battery

Refers to a group of tests administered together to gather information about an individual from a variety of instruments.

Forensic Psychological Assessment

Can be defined broadly as the theory and application of psychological evaluation and measurement in a legal context.

• Criminal profiling

• Custody evaluations

• Custody evaluations (evaluation of the parent)

• Child abuse and neglect

• Suicide assessment

Special Applications of Clinical Measures (5)