Psychological Assessment – Study Notes

Psychological Assessment –
Study Notes
1. Definition of Psychological Assessment

Psychological assessment is the systematic process of collecting, integrating, and interpreting
information about an individual to understand their behavior, abilities, personality, emotions, and
mental health.

Purposes:

 Diagnose psychological disorders

 Identify strengths and weaknesses

 Guide treatment planning

 Predict future behavior

 Educational and career guidance

 Research



2. Assessment vs Testing

Psychological Assessment Psychological Testing

Broad process One part of assessment

Uses interviews, observations, records, and tests Uses standardized psychological tests only

Leads to diagnosis and recommendations Produces test scores

Remember:
Testing = Tool
Assessment = Entire Process



3. Steps in Psychological Assessment

1. Referral question

2. Collect background information

3. Conduct interview

4. Behavioral observation

5. Administer psychological tests

, 6. Interpret results

7. Integrate findings

8. Write report

9. Provide feedback



4. Characteristics of a Good Psychological Test

a) Reliability

Consistency of test scores.

Types:

 Test-retest reliability

 Inter-rater reliability

 Internal consistency

 Parallel forms reliability

b) Validity

Whether the test measures what it claims to measure.

Types:

 Content validity

 Construct validity

 Criterion validity

 Face validity

c) Standardization

Uniform procedures for administration and scoring.

d) Norms

Average scores used to compare individuals.



5. Types of Psychological Tests

Intelligence Tests

Measure intellectual ability.

Examples:

 Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale