CNL-523 Week 1: Short Answer Questions
Psychological tests refer to the written, visual, or verbal evaluations conducted when assessing both cognitive and the emotional functioning power and ability o in both kids and adult people. According to (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013), psychological test is a system of behavior and performance that heavily uses categorical or numerical scale to determine changes and variations. Psychological tests get used in assessing various mental attributes and abilities, including personality, neurological functioning, and ability and achievement. Also, these tests are considered to be the formal measures for mental functioning, and are in most times quantifiable and objective.
Psychological assessment refers to the process of testing which employs the combination of metrics, measures or techniques to assist arrive at a certain hypothesis towards an individual and his/her personality, behavior, and capabilities. Psychological assessments are administered in four distinct forms namely observations, informal assessment, norm-referenced tests, and administration of interviews (Speizer, 2004). The unique characteristic of psychological assessment is that entails the process of data analysis and data interpretation. Therefore, psychological assessments remain very instrumental in helping understand and define the underlying causes of unusual behavior.
The process of choosing psychological evaluation tool is essential in determining the efficacy and effectiveness of a counseling practice. A combination of numerical scale methods when administering psychological tests, the observation of data, and the process of data analysis and interpretation offer a strong basis for understanding an individual’s psychological makeup. According to (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013), psychological tests provide important and valuable information. In the other hand, assessments dig deeper into an analysis of a person’s personality by including elements of observation. Assessments help uncover the subliminal aspects of performance or behavior. Tests rely more on standardized evaluation approaches and thus can be limiting in data collection. However, psychological assessments have an open and synonymous structure which helps in establishing an in-depth overview of an individual’s psychological wellness and wellbeing. In counseling field, tests can be referenced in the assessment process in order to understand individual personality, behavior, and capabilities (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). Integrating these two psychological evaluation methods is essential in offering a counselor with a clear view, dimension, and perspective of an individual’s mental and cognitive strengths and limitations.
There are four distinct types of psychological tests, and these tests are listed and described below:
- Clinical interview: A clinical interview, also termed to as intake interview, diagnostic interview, or admission interview provides the opportunity for a psychologist to collect significant and vital family and background data about the individual(Speizer, 2004). Clinical interviews are conducted by psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses.
- Assessment of intellectual functioning: Assessment of IQ is tested using two measures, intelligence tests and neuropsychological assessment. They include Wechsler scales and Stanford which take up to 2 days to administer. A person’s IQ remains a theoretical construct when measuring general intelligence.
- Personality assessment: In professional psychology, personality assessment entails the scoring, administration, and the interpretation of the empirically supported personality styles or trait measures so as to ensure clinical diagnosis refining, psychological processes restructuring, and psychological interventions information.
- Behavioral assessment: In psychology, behavioral assessment tests are used to observe, explore, describe, predict, explain, and make behavior corrections. According to (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013), behavioral assessment tests are helpful in corporate settings, clinical settings, and in educational fields. In this tool, psychologists perform the assessment in order to see a person’s behavior in action.
Studies by (Speizer, 2004) indicate that psychological testing was first done in China in 2,200 BCE. During this time, the Chinese government wanted to test their people in order to see who qualify for government employment posts for approval. In 2,200 B.C.E, government jobs paid more salary, no taxes, more security, and defined one as the society’s crème. According to (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013), tests were administered to men whose financial power enabled them to pay for tutors and spend most of their time preparing for examinations. Mainly, tests examined their expertise in archery, math, civil law, writing, horsemanship, and other top professions in the Chinese culture of the time.
At the middle ages, citizens raised concerns over categorizing people based on specific bodily fluids believed to influence an individual’s personality attributes. During the Middle Ages also, people were concerned with those holding satanic personalities; thus developing multiple measurement procedure to appraise and respond to this question. In the 19th century, the aspect of appraisals was already deep in the society. Today, appraisals are very common within the counseling field and good counselor must be able to show empathy, respect, self-awareness, credibility, and cultural diversity competence while in their works (Speizer, 2004).
References:
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2013). Human Development: A Life-Span View (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Speizer, I. (2004). Recruiting and Staffing. Workforce Magazine, 51-54.