Psychological Assessment 2

Historical, Cultural, & Ethical Considerations of Testing

Milestone in the history of testing

First large scale tests may have been part of the imperial examination system in China

Tests are an early form of psychological testing that assessed candidates based on their proficiency in topics such as civil law and fiscal policies

Early Tests of intelligence are made for entertainment rather than for analysis

Phrenology

a pseudoscience, involved assessing personality by way of skull measurement

Franz Joseph Gall

Founder of phrenology

19th Century in France

Modern mental testing began

Contributed to identifying individuals with intellectual disabilities for the purpose of humanely providing them with an alternative form of education

Brass Instrument Era/Psychology

a common term used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to describe laboratory psychology, shows the centrality of scientific instruments in the origin and development of experimental psychology.

Francis Galton

contributed the phrase "nature versus nurture," differential psychology, influenced the lexical hypothesis theory, and intelligence testing.

Coined the term psychometrics and eugenics

Developed a method for measuring intelligence based on nonverbal-sensory motor tests

1905

Binet Simon Scale was released- ushers in the era of intelligence tests

Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon

Called to develop a practical tool for selecting children for which special placement in schools was needed

1917

Army Alpha and Beta was released (First group of intelligence tests)

Robert M. Yerkes

convinced the U.S government and the army that all of its recruits should be given intelligence tests for purposes of classification and assignment

1918

Woodworth Personal Data Sheet was released and in the era of personality assessment

Woodworth Personal Data Sheet

one of the earliest modern personality tests, developed during world war 1 to be used by the United States Army for the purpose of screening potential soldiers for mental health problems and identifying victims of shell shock

1920

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Rorschach Inkblot test were developed and testing expands its influence

Scholastic Aptitude Test

Intended to measure literacy, writing skills, and numeracy that are needed for academic success in college

Assesses how well the test-takers analyze the and solve problems-skills they learned in school that they will need in college

Leta Stetter Hollingworth

Specialized in educational psychology, focusing primarily on exceptional children and coined the term “Gifted Children”.

Did research that disproved the theories at the time that women were intellectually inferior to men

Known for her landmark contributions to the psychology of women and to the education of gifted

1930

David Wechsler released the Wechsler-Bellevue 1 and initiates a series of influential intelligence tests

David Wechsler

originally introduced Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence scale in 1839, an intellectual tests for adults

1940

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was released-destined to become the leading objective personality inventory

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

A psychological Tests that assesses personality tests and psychopathology

Primarily Intended to test people who are suspected of having mental health or other clinical issues

One of the most commonly used psychological tests in the world

Starke Hathaway & J.C Mckinley

The clinical psychologist and neuropsychiatrist who developed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Henry H. Goddard

Highly instrumental in getting Binet’s tests and adopted for use in various settings in the United States

Culture-Specific Tests

Designed for use with people from one culture but not from another, soon began to appear on the scene

Verbal Communication

Language, the means by which information is communicated, is a key yet sometimes overlooked variable in the assessment process

Non verbal communication

Facial expressions, finger and hand signs, and shifts in one’s positions in space may all convey messages

Standards of Evaluation

Judgment matters of personal preference and the standard of evaluation employed

Tests and group membership

Tests and other evaluative measures administered in vocational, education, counseling, and other settings leave little doubt that people differ from one another on an individual basis and also from group to group on a collective basis

Psychology, Tests & Public Policy

Tests and other tools of assessment are portrayed as instruments that can have a momentous and immediate impact on one’s life.

Test user qualifications Level A

Tests or aids that can adequately be administered, scored, and interpreted with the aid of the manual and a general orientation to the kind of institution or organization in which one is working( for instance, achievement or proficiency tests)

Text user qualifications Level B

Tests or aids that require some technical knowledge of test construction and use and of supporting psychological and educational fields such as statistics, individual differences, psychology of adjustment, personnel psychology, and guidance

Text user qualifications Level C

Tests or aids that require substantial understanding of testing and supporting psychological fields together with supervised experience in the use of these devices

Testing people with disabilities

Difficulties analogous to those concerning test takers from linguistic and cultural minorities are present when testing people with disabling conditions

Computerized test administration

Computer- assisted psychological assessment(CAPA) has become more the norm that the exception. An ever-growing number of psychological tests can be purchased or even administered and scored online

The Right of Informed Consent

Rights of Test-Takers

Informed Consent

Consent must be in written rather than oral form. The written form should specify (1) the general purpose of the testing, (2) the specific reason it is being undertaken in the present case, (3) the general type of instruments to be administered

The right to be informed of test findings

Rights of Test-Takers

The right to privacy and confidentiality

Rights of Test-Takers

Privilege

is extended to parties in various relationships because it has been deemed that the parties’ right to privacy serves a greater public interest than would be served if their communications were vulnerable to revelation during legal proceedings

Confidentiality

may be distinguished from privilege in that, whereas this concerns matters of communication outside the courtroom, privilege protects clients from disclosure in judicial proceedings

The right to the least stigmatizing label

Rights of Test-Takers

PAP Code of Ethics for Psychologists & Psychometricians, Principle I

Respect for the dignity of persons and people

PAP Code of Ethics for Psychologists & Psychometricians, Principle II

Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and Peoples

PAP Code of Ethics for Psychologists & Psychometricians, Principle III

Integrity

PAP Code of Ethics for Psychologists & Psychometricians, Principle IV

Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society