Chapter 1:

Introduction to
Psychological
Assessment 1
Prof. Pauline V. Bacerra
Outline:
• Psychological Testing and
Assessment and its definition
• The Tools of Psychological
Assessment
• Process of Assessment
Introduction
o There is an emphasis on the administration, scoring, and interpretation of
objective cognitive and other personality tests used in various applied
fields of psychology, particularly the educational, industrial, and
government settings
o Practical and technical report writing of various assessment tools are also
covered
o Ethical considerations as well as current trends and issues in psychological
testing in the Philippines are discussed to instill the importance of
practicing the profession ethically
What is Psychometrics?
o It is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of
psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge,
abilities, attitudes, and personality traits
o The field is primarily concerned with the study of differences between
individuals
o Moreover, it involves two major research tasks, namely:
o The construction of instruments and procedures for measurement
o The development and refinement of theoretical approaches to
measurement
o According to Borsboom (2006)
“Psychometrics is a scientific discipline
concerned with the construction of
assessment tools, measurement
instruments, and formalized models
that may serve to connect observable
phenomena to theoretical attributes
Psychological testing & Assessment
o Psychological testing and assessment are
similar to medical tests
o The results of the tests will help inform
and develop a treatment plan
o Psychologists use tests and other
assessment tools to measure and observe
a client's behavior to arrive at a diagnosis
and guide treatment.
Psychological Assessment
o It is defined as “the gathering and integration of psychology-related data for
the purpose of making a psychological evaluation, accomplished through a
variety of tools, including individual tests, projective tests, clinical interview and
other psychological assessment tools, for the purpose of assessing diverse
psychological functions including cognitive abilities, aptitudes, personality
characteristics, attitudes, values, interests, emotions, and motivations, among
others, in support of psychological counseling, psychotherapy, and other
psychological interventions”.
o Moreover, psychological assessment is the integration of information
from multiple sources in order to describe, predict, explain, diagnose,
and make decisions
o Moreover, he affirmed that psychological assessments are far more
than tests.
o Lastly, Psychological Assessment is a more complex enterprise involving
the integration of information from different sources to get a more
comprehensive understanding of a person, using multiple sources
including personal, social, and medical history where relevant
Psychological Testing
o It is a systematic procedure for obtaining samples of behavior, relevant
to cognitive, affective, or interpersonal functioning, and for scoring and
evaluating those samples according to standards (Urbina, 2014)
o It is a set of items that are designed to measure characteristics of
human beings that pertain to behavior
o Moreover, Kaplan defined a test as “a measurement device or
technique used to quantify behavior or aid in the understanding and
prediction of behavior.”
Reasons why we use
Psychological testing:
o Some psychological tests attempt to measure the extent to which
someone might engage in or “emit” a particular overt behavior
o Other tests measure an individual’s covert behavior which cannot be
directly observed
 Difference between
Psychological Assessment and
Testing
 In terms of: Testing Assessment
Objective • Typically, to obtain some • Typically, to answer a
gauge, usually numerical in referral question, solve a
nature, with regard to an problem, or arrive at a
ability or attribute. decision through the use of
tools of evaluation
Process • Testing may be individual or • Assessment is typically
group in nature individualized
• After test administration, • It focuses more on how an
the tester will typically add individual processes rather
up “the number of correct than simply the results of
answers or the number of that processing
certain types of
responses…with little if any
regard for the how or
mechanics of such content
 In terms of: Testing Assessment
Role of evaluator • The tester is not the key to • The assessor is the key to
the process; the tester may the process of selecting
be substituted by another tests and/or other tools of
tester without appreciably evaluation as well as
affecting the evaluation. drawing conclusions from
• Ex: Administering an the entire evaluation
entrance exam
Skill of Evaluator • Testing typically requires • Assessment typically
technician-like skills in requires an expert who is
terms of administering and educated on tools of
scoring a test as well as evaluation, skill in
interpreting a test result. evaluation, and thoughtful
organization and
integration of data.
Outcome • Testing yields a test score • Assessment entails a
or series of test scores. logical problem-solving
approach that brings to
bear many sources of data
designed to shed light on a
referral question.
 Reasons why we administer Psychological
Tests:
o Children who are experiencing difficulty in school
o Aptitude testing or tests for learning disabilities
o Tests for skills such as dexterity, and reaction time, and for people with
brain injuries or dementia
o Neuropsychological tests for military and other uniformed personnel
Others:
1. Get a better understanding of the patient’s strengths and weaknesses;
2. Fully evaluate their mental, cognitive, and behavioral function;
3. Identify what exactly is impacting their ability to perform and thrive;
4. Determine if there is a psychological condition or diagnosis that needs
to be given;
5. Formulate a plan on how best to treat the condition; and
6. Initiate treatment with the support of a psychologist.
1. Get a better understanding of the patient’s strengths
and weaknesses

o Through the testing process, your psychologist

will assess the areas in which you succeed, and
the areas in which you struggle the most
o Knowing your strengths and weaknesses in
these areas will allow your psychologist to
understand how you are experiencing life and
the world around you
2. Fully evaluate their mental, cognitive, and behavioral
function
o Psychological tests are performed using several types of assessments
that all serve different, equally valuable purposes
o There are tests to evaluate your behavior, cognitive function, as well as
your mental and emotional state among many other things.
3. Identify what exactly is impacting their ability to
perform and thrive
o With the information they have gathered, the psychologist can then
look deeper into the “why”
o After seeing where you are and are not functioning at full capacity,
they can better evaluate what might be creating those challenges
4. Determine if there is a psychological condition or
diagnosis that needs to be given
o In a situation where there is a psychological condition present, the
psychologist will reach that conclusion using all of the detailed results
they gathered in the testing process
o They will then create a comprehensive report that explains those
results as well as the formal diagnosis
o This is truly the most significant purpose of psychological testing.
5. Formulate a plan on how best to treat the condition

o Depending on what the patient is facing, the

clinical psychologist will collaborate with them in
planning the next steps
o When you receive a diagnosis, there is a common
feeling of, “Well, what now?”.
o Your psychologist will help you to know what the
most beneficial treatment is and how to approach
that treatment plan.
6. Initiate treatment with the support of a psychologist

o With the support of your psychologist and any other mental health
provider or physician you have on your team, you can then begin the
path to healing
o Whether that treatment is psychiatric medication management,
psychotherapy, or another form of behavioral treatment, after you
have received your report from your psychologist you will be able to
embark on your treatment plan
 Tools of
Psychological
Assessment
o Test
o Interview
o Portfolio
o Case History Data
o Behavioral Observation
o Role-Play Tests
Test
o It may be defined simply as a measuring device or
procedure
o Kaplan (2012) referred test as a measurement device or
technique used to quantify behavior or aid in the
understanding and prediction of behavior
o Psychological tests and other tools of assessment may
differ with respect to a number of variables, such as
content, format, administration procedures, scoring, and
interpretation procedures
 Interview
o It is defined as a method of gathering
information through direct
communication involving reciprocal
exchange
o If the interview is conducted face-to-
face, then the interviewer is probably
taking note of not only the content of
what is said but also the way it is being
said.
Portfolio
o A portfolio constituted of retained work
products on paper, canvas, film, video,
audio, or some other medium
o As samples of one’s ability and
accomplishment, a portfolio may be used
as a tool of evaluation.
 Case History Data
o It refers to records, transcripts, and other accounts in written, pictorial, or
other form that preserve archival information, official and informal
accounts, and other data and items relevant to an assessee
o This data may include files or excerpts from files, maintained at
institutions and agencies such as schools, hospitals, employers, religious
institutions, and criminal justice agencies
o A case history basically refers to a file containing relevant information
pertaining to an individual client or group
o Case histories are maintained by a broad range of professional
organizations including those in the fields of psychiatry, psychology,
healthcare, and social work
o It may cover health, family, and social history, educational and
occupational data, test results, and interviews, along with professional
evaluations
Example:
Behavioral Observation
o It may be defined as monitoring of actions of others or oneself by
visual or electronic means while recording quantitative and/or
qualitative information regarding those actions
Role-Play Tests
o It is a tool of assessment wherein assesses are directed to act as if they
were in a particular situation. Assesses may then be evaluated with
regard to their expressed thoughts, behaviors, abilities, and other
variables.
Process of Assessment
Step 2: Evaluate the
Step 1: Referral referral questions/ Step 3: Plan data
questions Identifying the collection
problem

Step 6:
Step 5: Interpret Step 4: Collect
Communicate
data assessment data
findings
Step 1: Referral questions
o The process of assessment process begins with a series of questions
o These questions come in part from the client and are called the
“referral questions” --- questions that led the client to be referred to the
psychologist
Step 2: Evaluate the referral questions/
Identifying the problem
o Based on the referral questions, the
psychologist tries to determine the underlying
problem that the client has
o Most of the time, referral questions are
superficial which can lead to discovering
more complicated problems
Step 3: Plan data collection
o The psychologist formulates a plan for a particular case
o Once again, psychologists are confronted with a number of choices as
they carry out the assessment process
o Planning for data collection may include determining appropriate tools
and/or tests that will provide substantial information to answer the
referral questions.
Example:
o The client has been referred due to difficulty in his academic tasks. The
psychologist may consider administering an intelligence test
Step 4: Collect assessment
data
o The psychologist then starts collecting
data through the use of various
assessment tools such as conducting
interviews, tests, and other relevant
records
Step 5: Interpret data
o The collected data are then analyzed and
integrated to answer the referral
questions.
o For example, if the client is experiencing
difficulty in his academic tasks, through
the use of an intelligence test, it can be
found that the client might be suffering
from a cognitive delay
Step 6: Communicate findings

o The psychologist then creates a written

psychological report and/or gives oral
feedback
o This should be done in accordance with
ethical standards.
Where do we conduct
Psychological
Assessment?
Educational Setting
o Tests are administered early in school life to help
identify children who may have special needs
o In addition to school ability tests, another type of
test commonly given in schools is an achievement
test, which evaluates accomplishment or the
degree of learning that has taken place
o While a Diagnostic test refers to a tool of
assessment used to help narrow down and identify
areas of deficit to be targeted for intervention
Clinical Setting
o Tests and many other tools of assessment are widely used in clinical
settings such as public, private, and military hospitals, inpatient and
outpatient clinics, private practice consulting rooms, schools, and
other institutions
o These tools are used to help screen for or diagnose behavior
problems
 Situations where such tools are used:
o A private psychotherapy client wishes to be evaluated to see if the
assessment can provide any nonobvious clues regarding his
maladjustment.
o A school psychologist clinically evaluates a child experiencing learning
difficulties to determine what factors are primarily responsible for it.
o A psychotherapy researcher uses assessment procedures to determine if a
particular method of psychotherapy is effective in treating a particular
problem.
o A psychologist-consultant retained by an insurance company is called
on to give an opinion as to the reality of a client’s psychological
problems; is the client really experiencing such problems or just
malingering?
o A court-appointed psychologist is asked to give an opinion as to a
defendant’s competency to stand trial.
o A prison psychologist is called on to give an opinion regarding the
extent of a convicted violent prisoner’s rehabilitation.
o The tests employed in clinical settings
may be intelligence tests, personality
tests, neuropsychological tests, or other
specialized instruments, depending on
the presenting or suspected problem
area
Counseling Setting
o Assessment in a counseling context may occur in environments as diverse
as schools, prisons, and government or privately owned institutions
o The ultimate objective of many such assessments is the improvement of
the assessee in terms of adjustment, productivity, or some related
variable
o Measures of social and academic skills and measures of personality,
interest, attitudes, and values are among the many types of tests that a
counselor might administer to a client
Example:
o How can this child better focus on tasks?
o For what career is the client best suited?
o What activities are recommended for retirement?
Geriatric Setting
o In the United States, more than 12 million adults are currently in the age
range of 75 to 84
o Older Americans may live at home, in special housing designed for
independent living, in housing designed for assisted living, or in long-
term care facilities such as hospitals and hospices
o Wherever older individuals reside, they may at some point require
psychological assessment to evaluate cognitive, psychological, adaptive,
or other functioning and also to assess their quality of life
Business and Military Settings
o A wide range of achievement, aptitude, interest, motivational, and
other tests may be employed in the decision to hire as well as in
related decisions regarding promotions, transfer, job satisfaction, and
eligibility for further training
UNIQU
E

NOSTALGI
C

EMOTIONALLY
EXPRESSIVE

End of Chapter 1