Studied by 4 people
Psychological assessment
Gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation that is accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and specially designed apparatuses and measurement procedures.
Psychological testing
The process of measuring psychology-related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior.
Testing
To obtain some gauge, usually numerical in nature, with regard to an ability or attribute.
Testing
May be individual or group in nature.
Tester
The _________ is not key to the process; practically speaking, one _________ may be substituted for another _________ without appreciably affecting the evaluation.
Testing
Typically requires technician-like skills in terms of administering and scoring a test as well as in interpreting a test result.
Assessment
To answer a referral question, solve a problem, or arrive at a decision through the use of tools of evaluation.
Assessment
Typically individualized.
Assessor
The _________ is key to the process of selecting tests and/or other tools of evaluation as well as in drawing conclusions from the entire evaluation.
Assessment
Typically requires an educated selection of tools of evaluation, skill in evaluation, and thoughtful organization and integration of data.
Educational assessment
Refers to the use of tests and other tools to evaluate abilities and skills relevant to success or failure in a school or pre-school context.
Retrospective assessment
Refers to the use of evaluative tools to draw conclusions about psychological aspects of a person as they existed at some point in time prior to the assessment.
Remote assessment
Refers to the use of tools of psychological evaluation to gather data and draw conclusions about a subject who is not in physical proximity to the person or people conducting the evaluation.
Ecological momentary assessment
Refers to the "in the moment" evaluation of specific problems and related cognitive and behavioral variables at the exact time and place that they occur.
Collaborative psychological assessment
The assessor and assessee work as partners.
Therapeutic psychological assessment
An element of therapy is part of the process.
Dynamic assessment
Refers to an interactive approach to psychological assessment that usually follows a model of evaluation, intervention of some sort, and evaluation.
Test
May be defined simply as a measuring device or procedure.
Psychological test
A device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology.
Format
The form, plan, structure, layout of test items, and other considerations.
Administration
Tests may either involve demonstration of certain tasks demanded of the assessee and trained observation of performance or may not even require the involvement of test administrators.
Score
A code or summary statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, that reflects an evaluation of performance on a test, task, interview, or some other sample of behavior.
Scoring
The process of assigning such evaluative codes or statements to performance on tests, tasks, interviews, or other behavior samples.
Cut score
A reference point, usually numerical, derived by judgment and used to divide a set of data into two or more classifications.
Psychometrics
Defined as the science of psychological measurement.
Utility
Refers to the usefulness or practical value that a test or other tool of assessment has for a particular purpose.
Interview
A method of gathering information through direct communication involving reciprocal exchange.
Motivational interviewing
May be defined as a therapeutic dialogue that combines person-centered listening skills such as openness and empathy, with the use of cognition-altering techniques designed to positively affect motivation and effect therapeutic change.
Portfolio
A file containing the products of one's work; it may serve as a sample of one's abilities and accomplishments for the purpose of evaluation.
Case history data
Information preserved in records, transcripts, and/or other forms that preserve archival information, official and informal accounts, and other data and items relevant to an assessee.
Groupthink
Arises as a result of the varied forces that drive decision-makers to reach a consensus.
Behavioral observation
Monitoring the actions of people by visual or electronic means while recording quantitative and/or qualitative information regarding those actions.
Role play
May be defined as acting an improvised or partially improvised part in a simulated situation.
Role-play test
A tool of assessment wherein assessees are directed to act as if they were in a particular situation.
Local processing
On-site scoring
Central processing
Central location scoring
Simple scoring report
A mere listing of a score or scores.
Extended scoring report
Includes statistical analyses of the testtaker’s performance.
Interpretive report
Distinguished by its inclusion of numerical or narrative interpretive statements in the report.
Consultative report
Usually written in language appropriate for communication between assessment professionals, may provide expert opinion concerning analysis of the data.
Integrative report
Employ previously collected data (such as medication records or behavioral observation data) into the test report.
Computer assisted psychological assessment
Allowed for tailor-made tests with built-in scoring and interpretive capabilities.
Test developer
Creates tests for research studies, publications (as commercially available instruments), or modifications of existing tests.
Testtaker
Anyone who is the subject of an assessment or evaluation.
Psychological autopsy
May be defined as a reconstruction of a deceased individual’s psychological profile on the basis of archival records, artifacts, and interviews previously conducted with the deceased assessee or people who knew him or her.
Achievement test
Evaluates accomplishment or the degree of learning that has taken place.
Diagnosis
May be defined as a description or conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and opinion.
Diagnostic test
Refers to a tool of assessment used to help narrow down and identify areas of deficit to be targeted for intervention.
Informal evaluation
Typically nonsystematic assessment that leads to the formation of an opinion or attitude.
Clinical settings
Tests and other forms of assessment are widely used in hospitals, inpatient and outpatient clinics, private-practice consulting rooms, schools, and other institutions.
Counseling setting
Assessments may occur in environments such as schools, prisons, and governmental or privately owned institutions.
Geriatric setting
Assessments that primarily evaluate cognitive, psychological, adaptive, or other functioning; it focuses on the quality of life.
Business and military setting
Decisions regarding careers of personnel are made with a wide range of achievement, aptitude, interest, motivational, and other tests.
Government and organizational credentialing
Include governmental licensing, certification, or general credentialing of professionals.
Academic research settings
Academicians should have a sound knowledge of measurement principles and tools of assessment.
Health psychology
A discipline that focuses on understanding the role of psychological variables in the onset, course, treatment, and prevention of illness, disease, and disability.
Test catalogues
Catalogues distributed by publishers of tests; they usually contain brief and uncritical descriptions of tests.
Test manuals
Contain detailed information concerning the development of a particular test and technical information.
Professional books
Books are available for assessment professionals to supplement, reorganize, or enhance the information typically found in the manual of a very widely used psychological test.
Reference volumes
Reference volumes like the Mental Measurements Yearbook or Tests in Print provide detailed information on many tests.
Journal articles
Contain reviews of a test, updated or independent studies of its psychometric soundness, or examples of how the instrument was used in either research or an applied context.
