5 - Clinical Psychology Assessment - Psychological test

Universitas Gadjah Mada: Assessment in Clinical Psychology: Psychological Test

Mission: Locally rooted, globally respected

Outline of Topics

  • Basic Concepts in Psychological Testing

  • Cultural Fairness and Bias in Psychological Testing

  • Cognitive, Neuropsychological, & Personality Assessment

  • The Current Status of Psychological Testing

  • The Future of Psychological Testing

Basic Concepts in Psychological Testing

Definition of a Test:

  • Systematic procedure for observing and describing behavior in a standard situation (Cronbach, 1970).

  • Tests as objective measures that are standardized.

  • Distinct from other assessment techniques.

  • Quantitative approach allows for comparison to statistical norms.

  • Can be administered individually or in groups.

What Do Tests Measure?

  • Assess/measures various psychological aspects

  • Types of methods use to administer tests:

    • Direct specific questions vs. general reactions

      *When you ask a clear, specific question, you usually get a focused answer

      example: yes or no answer

      *When you react to something in a general way, your response might be

      broader and not directly answer a specific question.

      example: facial expression

    • Paper-and-pencil vs. oral

    • Verbal skills vs. nonverbal tasks.

      *Some abilities show up more in spoken or written words (verbal skills).

      *Others appear in actions or physical tasks (nonverbal skills).

      How well someone performs may depend on whether they're using words or actions

  • Tests are classified into three categories:

    • Intellectual or cognitive abilities

    • Attitudes, interests, preferences, values(test minat bakat)

    • Personality characteristics

Test Construction and Quality

How are test constructed:

  • Analytic/Rational Approach: Creating questions for a test by carefully looking & understanding the subject area to be assessed.

  • Empirical Approach: Analyzing whole group responses; useful for predictions.

Avoiding distortion in test score

  • Potential error

    • Influences from test administrators and respondents (e.g., malingering: exaggeration of symptoms, not giving good instructions because of low mood, etc)

  • Minimizing extraneous sources of variability

    • reducing external factors or influences that might impact the test results

  • Reducing distortion

    • ensuring the test data accurately reflects what it is intended to measure, there by avoiding misleading interpretations

      -clear instructions and expert involvement.

      -paying attention to circumstances surrounding the test.

Criteria for Psychometric Quality of Tests

*psychometric: theory and technique of psychological measurement

  • Norms: Interpretation of scores.

    *example: the score 90 is a grade A in this school

  • Reliability Types:

    • Internal consistency - consistent results across items(question)

    • Test-retest - consistency across time.

    • Interrater - multiple raters yield similar results.

  • Validity Types:

    • Content validity - important domain/content associated w the trait

    • convergent validity - results of the test correlates w other well established measure of the same construct

    • discriminant validity - results of the test correlates w other well established measure of conceptually different constructs

    • diagnostic utility - results point to specific diagnosis

Cultural Fairness & Bias in Testing

  • Examines bias leading to differences in scores among cultural and age groups.

  • Certain minorities score differently on average on standardised tests when compared to majorities

  • Examining test use across cultural and age groups

Cognitive Assessment

What is Intelligence?

  • Describes cognitive ability encompassing:

    • Understanding complex ideas

    • Various reasoning forms

    • Problem-solving and adapting to demands

    • Learning from experience

  • Debate on whether intelligence is a singular factor or multiple factors (e.g., CHC model).

Understanding IQ

  • Originated by Terman (1916) based on Binet and Simon’s work.

  • Formula: IQ = (Mental Age/Chronological Age) x 100

  • Mean = 100; standard deviation = 15.

Intelligence Tests: The Binet Scale

Intelligence Tests: WAIS-IV

  • A widely used test for adults aged 16 to 90.

  • Assesses a broad spectrum of cognitive abilities through various subtests.

  • Provides an overall IQ score (Full-Scale IQ) and different various domain scores.

WAIS-IV Index Scores(the various domain scores)

  • Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI): Ability to understand and use verbal info.

  • Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI): Nonverbal reasoning abilities.

  • Working Memory Index (WMI): Short-term memory manipulation.

    *example: remembering what is in your bag

  • Processing Speed Index (PSI): Speed of processing visual info.

    *example: processing something visually in your mind without seeing it

Children’s Intelligence Tests

  • WISC: For ages 6-17; full-scale IQ and composite scores.

  • WPPSI: For ages 2.5-7; assesses cognitive abilities of younger children.

Neuropsychological Evaluations

Neuropsychology:

  • Concerns brain-behavior relationships.

  • Experimental Neuropsychology: Studies the relationship.

  • Clinical Neuropsychology: Assessment and treatment of brain damage.

Purposes of Neuropsychological Evaluations

  • Diagnosis: Classifying neurological and psychiatric symptoms.

  • Patient Care: Aids in adjusting to disabilities.

  • Evaluation of Rehabilitation: Helps in planning and assessing cognitive strength/weakness.

  • Research: Organizes brain studies related to behavior.

Domains Important to Assess in Neuropsychology

  • Orientation, Sensation and Perception, Attention, Motor Functioning, Language and Verbal Function, Visual-Spatial Organization, Memory, Abstract Reasoning.

Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessments Include:

  • Review of referral information, medical records, and an in-depth interview.

  • Administration of neuropsychological tests to assess functioning.

Neuropsychological Test: Fixed Batteries

  • Halstead Reitan: Assesses functioning with an impairment index; includes input functions, verbal abilities, etc.

  • Luria Nebraska: Comprehensive assessment with numerous item variations focusing on brain function.

Personality Assessment Types

  • Objective Tests: Unambiguous items, limited responses, often questionnaires.

  • Projective Tests: Ambiguous stimuli with open-ended responses.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2)

  • A popular objective personality test providing behavior insights.

  • Features validity scales for lying, defensiveness, and infrequency.

Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II)

  • A targeted objective test assessing depressive symptoms.

  • Contains 21 self-report items ranging from thoughts on dying to feelings of sadness.

Projective Personality Test: Rorschach Inkblot Method

  • Consists of 10 standardized inkblots used to assess responses and interpretations.

  • Insights into personality through interpretation of perceived stimuli.

Projective Personality Test: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

  • Developed by Murray; utilizes vague images for storytelling.

  • Focuses on internal desires (needs) influenced by external environment (press).

Use of Psychological Test Results in Clinical Practice

  • Diagnosis & Assessment: Aligning with diagnostic manuals and testing needs.

  • Treatment Planning: Selecting tailored interventions based on results.

  • Monitoring Progress: Continuous assessment for effective treatment adjustments.

Current Status of Psychological Testing

  • Validity is comparable to medical testing; utility in treatment selection and outcomes assessment.

Future of Psychological Testing

  • Resilience of valid tests; diminished use of low-reliability tests.

  • Expansion into cross-ethnic and cross-cultural applications and increased technological integration.