PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT UNIT 1.2

what is the aim of psychological assessment? 2 pts

A. to analyse normal and abnormal behavior of an individual or group in different areas to:

1. describe

2. classify

3. predict

4. intervene

5. evaluate psychological intervention

B. the analysis of the person, their conflcits, or problems

how to define psychological assessment? 1 pt

sub-discipline of psychology that deal with the scientific study of behavior at different levels of complexity requires by a subject in order to describe. classify, predict, and explain/control such behavior

what are the 6 main models of psychological assessment? 6 pts

1. trait model

2. psychodynamic model

3. medical model

4. behavioral model

5. cognitive model

6. constructivist model

what are the 7 differentiating criteria for models of psychological assessment? 7 pts

1. theoretical formulation- how each model explains behavor

2. type of variable- element under analysis in each model

3. basic methods- the way to operationaliza the variables that are being studies

4. assessment techniques- instruments through which data are collected

5. level of inference- the level of deduction-inference that is used on recorded behaviors

6. objectives/aims of assessment- depends on the demand of each process of psychological assessment

7. areas of application- each model has emerged in a given area so its application is usually related to it

what is BPOE? 4 pts

B- behavior, response

P- personal/psychological variables of the person

O- organism, biological varibales

E- environment, stimulus, situation

varies per model

wha t are the levels of inference?

1. level I- conduct understood as manifestation of behavior

2. level II- based on the assumption that a relationship or correlation exists between the behavior being assessed and other behaviors

3. level III- an explanation behind the associated observed behaviors

4. level IV- the intergration of the inferred concept into a complete theory

characteristics of the psychodynamic model? 8 pts

1. behavior is driven by unconscious forces and early childhood experiences

2. emphasizes internal conflcits between desires, morals, and reality

3. personality develops through stages in childhood

4. past experiences strongly shape current behavior

5. fear of authority figures rooted in early parental conflict

6. the unconscious mind comprises mental processes that are inaccessible to consciousness but that influence judgement, feelings, or behavior

7. any behavioral manifestation will be understood as an expression of the intrnal condition of the person

what is the primary source of human behavior according to freud? 1 pt

the unconscious mind

characteristics of the trait model? 5 pts

1. personality is made up of stable traits that differ between people

2. traits are consistent patterns of thoughts. feelings, and behaviors

3. focuses on measuring personality differences

4. often used in personality tests

5. manifested behavior itself does not have value but serves as the expression of a given psychic trait

characteristics of the behavioral model? 3 pts

1. psychology should study observable behavior not thoughts or feelings

2. focuses on conditioning (operant and classical)

3. the mind is treated like a black box

characteristics of the cognitive model? 4 pts

1. behavior is influenced by mental processes

2. studies how people think, remember, perceive, problem-solve, and make decisions

3. the mind is often compared to a computer that processes info

4. focuses on internal processes that behaviorism ignores

characteristics of the biological model? 4 pts

1. behavior has a physical and biological basis

2. focuses on the brain, NS, hormones, and genetics

3. mental disorders are linked to chemical imbalances or brain structure

4. uses methods like brain imaging and drug treatments

characteristics of the constructivist model? 4 pts

1. people actively construct their own understanding of reality

2. knowledge is built from personal experiences and social interactions

3. different people experience the same event differently

4. emphasizes subjective meaning rather than objective truth

controversial terms: ideographic approach? 5 pts

1. study of individual

2. focuses on the unique characteristics of an individual or a specific group

3. aims to understand the person in depth rather than comparing them to others

4. uses detailed methods such as case studies, interviews, and qualitative data

5. emphasizes individual expereiences, context, and meaning

“ what makes this person unique”

controversial terms: nomothetic approach? 5 pts

1. treats psychological assessment as a scientific discipline

2. based on general laws, theories, and principles derives from psychology

3. uses standardizes measures and statistical norms

4. compared an individual’s scores to group averages or population norms

5. applies general principles to individual cases to support diagnosis and decision making

“how does this peson compare to others”

controversial terms: qualitative vs quantitative? 6 pts

1. both approaches are complementary

2. quantitative data alone is not sufficient

3. subjective measures can/should be complemented with objective ones

4. allows for the possibbility of replication

5. qualitative→ high level of inference

6. quantitative → low level of inference

controversial terms: traditional ? 8 pts

1. traits, factors, dimensions

2. consistency of behavior

3. use tests to refer to norms (inter-individual comparisons)

4. questionnaires

5. general items

6. high levels of inference

7. indirect assessment

8. description, classification, prediction

controversial terms: behavioral? 8 pts

1. stimulus and responses (motor physiological, cognitive)

2. specificity of the behavior

3. use tests to refer to criteria (intra-individual comparisons)

4. observation

5. specific items

6. low levels of inferences

7. direct assessment

8. explanation, control, evaluation