Comprehensive Guide to Psychological Assessment and Testing

Ecological Momentary

"in the moment" evaluation of specific problems and related cognitive and behavioral variables at the very time and place that they occur

Collaborative

the assessor and assesee may work as "partners" from initial contact through final feedback

Therapeutic

therapeutic self-discovery and new understanding are encouraged

Dynamic

describe interactive approach to psychological assessment that usually follows the model: evaluation > intervention of some sort > evaluation

Psychological Test

device or procedure designed to measure psychology-related variables

Content

subject matter

Format

form, plan, structure, arrangement, layout

Item

a specific stimulus to which a person responds overtly and this response is being scored or evaluated

Administration Procedures

one-to-one basis or group administration

Score

code or summary of statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, but reflects an evaluation of performance on a test

Scoring

the process of assigning scores to performances

Cut-Score

reference point derived by judgement and used to divide a set of data into two or more classification

Psychometric Soundness

technical quality

Psychometrics

science of psychological measurement

Psychometrist or Psychometrician

refer to professional who uses, analyzes, and interprets psychological data

Psychological Testing

process of measuring psychology-related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior

Psychological Assessment

gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making psychological evaluation

Educational

evaluate abilities and skills relevant in school context

Retrospective

draw conclusions about psychological aspects of a person as they existed at some point in time prior to the assessment

Remote

subject is not in physical proximity to the person conducting the evaluation

Non-standardized/Unstructured

pursue relevant ideas in depth

Semi-Standardized/Focused

may probe further on specific number of questions

Non-Directive

subject is allowed to express his feelings without fear of disapproval

Mental Status Examination

determines the mental status of the patient

Intake Interview

determine why the client came for assessment; chance to inform the client about the policies, fees, and process involved

Social Case

biographical sketch of the client

Employment Interview

determine whether the candidate is suitable for hiring

Panel Interview (Board Interview)

more than one interviewer participates in the assessment

Motivational Interview

used by counselors and clinicians to gather information about some problematic behavior, while simultaneously attempting to address it therapeutically

Portfolio

samples of one's ability and accomplishment

Case History Data

refers to records, transcripts, and other accounts in written, pictorial, or other form that preserve archival information, official and informal accounts, and other data and items relevant to an assessee

Case study

a report or illustrative account concerning a person or an event that was compiled on the basis of case history data

Groupthink

result of the varied forces that drive decision-makers to reach a consensus

Behavioral Observation

monitoring of actions of others or oneself by visual or electronic means while recording quantitative and/or qualitative information regarding those actions

Naturalistic Observation

observe humans in natural setting

SORC Model

Stimulus, Organismic Valuables, Actual Response, Consequence

Role Play

defined as acting an improvised or partially improvised part in a stimulated situation

Role Play Test

assesses are directed to ********* they are in a particular situation

Ability or Maximal Performance Test

assess what a person can do

Achievement Test

measurement of the previous learning; used to measure general knowledge in a specific period of time; used to assess mastery; rely mostly on content validity; fact-based or conceptual

Aptitude

refers to the potential for learning or acquiring a specific skill; tends to focus on informal learning; rely mostly on predictive validity

Intelligence

refers to a person's general potential to solve problems, adapt to changing environments, abstract thinking, and profit from experience

Typical Performance Test

measure usual or habitual thoughts, feelings, and behavior; indicate how test takers think and act on a daily basis; use interval scales; no right and wrong answers

Personality Test

measures individual dispositions and preferences; designed to identify characteristic; measured ideographically or nomothetically

Structured Personality tests

provide statement, usually self-report, and require the subject to choose between two or more alternative responses

Projective Personality Tests

unstructured, and the stimulus or response are ambiguous

Attitude Test

elicit personal beliefs and opinions

Interest Inventories

measures likes and dislikes as well as one's personality orientation towards the world of work

Speed Tests

the interest is the number of times a test taker can answer correctly in a specific period

Power Tests

reflects the level of difficulty of items the test takers answer correctly

Values Inventory

a tool to assess personal values

Trade Test

a test assessing specific vocational skills

Neuropsychological Test

assesses cognitive functioning and brain-behavior relationships

Norm-Referenced test

compares an individual's performance to a group norm

Criterion-Referenced Tests

measures performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards.

Interview

method of gathering information (biofeedback devices)

Data collection

The process of gathering information for analysis.

Data Interpretation

The process of making sense of collected data.

Hit Rate

The accuracy of predicting success or failure.

Profile

A narrative description, graph, or table representing assessment results.

Test Sponsors

Institutions or government entities that contract test developers for testing services.

Test Battery

A selection of tests used to assess targeted characteristics.

Actuarial Assessment

An evaluation approach using tests designed to measure different variables with a common objective.

Trait

A distinguishable, relatively enduring characteristic that influences behavior.

Mechanical Prediction

The use of computer algorithms to predict outcomes based on past data.

Psychological Trait

Characteristics such as intelligence, cognitive style, and interests that remain stable over time.

States

Less enduring characteristics that distinguish individuals in specific situations.

Construct

An informed, scientific concept developed to explain behavior.

Overt Behavior

An observable action or the product of an observable action.

Levels of Interpretation

Different degrees of analysis applied to data interpretation.

Level I Interpretation

Minimal interpretation with no concern for underlying constructs.

Level II Interpretation

Involves descriptive generalizations about data.

Psychological Traits

Patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that generalize across situations.

Assumption 1

Psychological traits and states exist.

Characteristic Patterns

Stable patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that vary systematically between individuals.

Behavior Control

Identifying behaviors that can be manipulated by changing the situation.

Statistical Rules

Empirical rules applied to assessors' judgments and actions.

Psychometric Approaches

Methods focused on the measurement of psychological traits and states.

Hypothetical Construct

the assumption of an inner state which goes logically beyond the description of visible behavior

Level III

the effort to develop a coherent and inclusive theory of the individual life or a 'working image' of the patient

Extra-Test Behavior

observations made by an examiner regarding what the examinee does and how the examinee reacts during the course of testing that are indirectly related to the test's specific content but of possible significance to interpretation

State

a way in which one individual varies from another

Test Author/Developer

creates the tests or other methods of assessment

Test Publishers

they publish, market, sell, and control the distribution of tests

Test Reviewers

prepare evaluative critiques based on the technical and practical aspects of the tests

Test Users

uses the test of assessment

Test Takers

those who take the tests

Behavior Manifestation

the degree to which behavior manifests is presumed to depend not only on the strength of the trait in the individual but also on the nature of the action (situation-dependent)

Context of Behavior

the context within which behavior occurs also plays a role in helping us select appropriate trait terms for observed behaviors

Comparative Assessment

assessors may make comparisons among people who, because of their membership in some group or for any number of other reasons, are decidedly not average

Assumption 2

Psychological Traits and States can be Quantified and Measured

Cumulative Scoring

Assumption that the more based on testing and assessment procedures, we can readily appreciate the need for tests

Reliability

Dependability or consistency of the testtaker responds in a particular direction keyed by the test manual as correct or consistent with a particular trait

Assumption 3

Test-Related Behavior Predicts Non-Test-Related Behavior

Assumption 4

Test and Other Measurement Techniques have strengths and weaknesses

Assumption 5

Various Sources of Error are part of the Assessment Process

Reliability Coefficient

Index of reliability, a proportion that indicates the ratio between the true score variance on a test and the total variance

Classical Test Theory

Score that each testtaker has true score on a test that would be obtained but for the action of measurement error

Error

Refers to the component of the observed test score that does not have to do with the testtaker's ability

Error Variance

The component of a test score attributable to sources other than the trait or ability measured