Module 1: Tracing the Landscape of Psychological Testing and Assessment.

Question 1

Define Cognitive Ability Tests:

Answer 1

Designed to asses cognitive functions, such as memory, spatial visualization, abstract thinking, problem solving.

Question 2

Other Major Categories of Cognitive Tests:

Answer 2

1. Achievement testing
2. Personality Testing
3. Mental Health Testing
4. Self-Report Inventories
5. Structures Clinical Interview Schedules
6. Performance Tests
7. Self-report Tests.

Question 3

What are the fundamental assumptions of psychological testing

Answer 3

• People differ in important traits.
• We can measure these traits.
• The traits are reasonably stable.

Question 4

The Differential Perspective

Answer 4

• In social sciences, we attempt to formulate laws or generalizations that, more or less, apply to everyone. E.g., Does psychoanalysis cure phobias?
• The differential perspective assumes that the answer may differ for different people – this perspective pervades the world of psychological testing.

Question 5

Defining a Psychological Test: Basic Characteristics

Answer 5

• A procedure or device.
• Yields information.
• Behaviour or cognitive process.
• Sample of.
• Standardised.
• Quantified.

Question 6

Psychological testing:

Answer 6

A standardised process or device that yields information about a sample of behaviour or cognitive processes in a quantified manner.

Question 7

Criteria for a good quality psychological test:

Answer 7

• Reliability
• Validity
• Utility
• Adequate normative data

Question 8

How do the experts define assessment?

Answer 8

• Gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation…accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioural observations

Question 9

The Process of Psychological Assessment:

Answer 9

• Referral Question/Problem
• Data Collection
- Observation, Interview, Psych testing, checking records
• Answering the referral question/problem

Question 10

Psychological testing

Answer 10

is very narrow in scope and involves merely administering a psychological test and interpreting that test score in isolation.

Question 11

Psychological assessment

Answer 11

is much broader. Involves more complex clinical questions that can be addressed by simply considering test scores.

Question 12

Types of referral:

Answer 12

o Diagnostic referral
o Strengths and weaknesses
o Treatment referral

Question 13

Test Selection:

Various factors to consider:

Answer 13

• Referral question and hypotheses.
• Scientific quality of the tests: reliability, validity, normative data.
• Client factors: particularly age, education level and culture.

Question 14

Clinical Interview Involves:

Answer 14

• Might want to collect data from other sources (family member or partner)
• Establish rapport with client, identify assessment goals and priorities.
• Open and closed-ended questions
• Questioning should be purposeful, and hypothesis driven.

Question 15

Clinical Observations are used to asses:

Answer 15

• Emotional and mental state.
• Body language.
• Display emotions (affect), including facial expression.
• Degree of eye contact.
• Alertness and level of concentration.
• Tone of voice and pacing of speech.
• Willingness to cooperate.
• Dress and hygiene.

Question 16

The standard error of measurement (SEM):

Answer 16

SEM used to derive confidence interval (CI) around an observed test score. The wider the CI, the lower the reliability of the score.

Is the most useful index of reliability for interpretation of individual test scores.

Question 17

Case Formulation (CF)

Answer 17

involves answering the referral question and summarizing the following key information:
• Client’s presentation and presenting problem/s.
• Client’s current level of functioning, including their strengths and difficulties as measured by the tests and assessment procedures.
• Diagnoses (where relevant)
• Factors which contribute to and maintain the client’s everyday difficulties, which may represent targets for treatment and management.