Psychological test meaning, concept, need & importance

Dr. J D Singh Asst. Professor

G V (PG) College of Education (CTE)Sangaria-335063, Rajasthan, India

Email: drjdsingh@gmail.com

Meaning and conceptMeaning and concept ObjectivesObjectives Need and ImportanceNeed and Importance Types of Psychological TestTypes of Psychological Test Major characteristicsMajor characteristics Selected TestsSelected Tests ConclusionConclusion

A psychological test is a standardized measure of a sample of a person’s behavior that is used to measure the individual differences that exist among people.

A psychological test is an objective and standardized measure of an individual's mental and/or behavioral characteristics.

A psychological test is a systematic procedure for observing a person’s behavior or performance, describing it with the aid of a numerical scale or category system.

Mostly tests are used as a way of measuring differences between people or differences in the same person over time.

Psychological testing is a field characterized by the use of samples of behavior, most often administered as a series of items in which the individual must give a response, in order to assess psychological construct(s), such as ability, cognitive and emotional functioning, or personality.

The technical term for the science behind psychological testing is psychometrics.

Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational measurement.

Psychological tests are used to assess a variety of mental abilities and attributes, including achievement and ability, personality, and neurological functioning.

To measure aspects of mental ability, aptitude or personality of a person

It may be Used as part of the recruitment or selection process

Provide employers with a method of selecting the most suitable job applicants or candidates for promotion

Personality tests are administered for a wide variety of reasons, from diagnosing psychopathology (e.g., personality disorder, depressive disorder) to screening job candidates.

Psychological tests are used in research, however, most serve a practical purpose such as schooling, job qualifications, etc.

may be used as tools in school placement, in determining the presence of a learning disability or a developmental delay  in identifying giftedness, or in tracking intellectual development.

They may be used in an educational setting to determine personality strengths and weaknesses.

Identifies Weaknesses and Strengths: Norm-referenced and group-administered achievement tests are the most common types administered in schools.

Supports Individualized Lesson Plans: Psychological testing in schools can identify students with disabilities or delayed skills and determine their eligibility for receiving individualized lesson plans free of charge to families.

Enables Placement Decisions Monitors Progress

Identifying Disabilities: Learning disabilities can be very hard to identify, but psychological testing helps in detecting areas in which students are having difficulties.

Advancement: Psychological testing is also important in helping the school administration and teachers to evaluate students’ academic achievements and make decisions about their advancement.

Vocational Ability: The results of a psychological test can also assist parents, teachers and students ascertain the vocational ability of the child.

There are two types of Psychological tests. Mental Ability tests Personality tests

Both of these types of tests devided into sub-categories of testing.

Includes three subcategories. Intelligence tests-

General Aptitude tests- Specific Achievement tests

Measure general mental abilities.

Measure motives, interests, values, and attitudes

They are intended to measure intellectual potential.

Aptitude Tests -Assess talent for specific kinds of learning. (clerical speed, mechanical reasoning, etc.)

Scholastic Aptitude Tests Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) American College Testing (ACT) Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Vocational/Career Aptitude Tests Armed Services Vocational Aptitude

Test Battery (ASVAB) O*NET Ability Profiler Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)

Gauge a person’s mastery and knowledge of various subjects

Measure aspects of personality, including motives, interests, values, and attitudes.

Standardization Test norms Standardization group

Reliability Correlation coefficient

Validity Content validity Criterion-related validity Construct validity

Standardization is known as the uniform procedures used in administrating and scoring a test.

Test norms: information used to rank scores in relation to other scores on the test.

Very simply, validity is the extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure.

It refers to the ability of a test to measure what it was designed to measure.

Examples What psychologist

promoted introspection?

Who developed the four mechanisms for dreaming?

What school of psychology does Skinner belong to?

Reliability refers to the measurement consistency of a test or other techniques.

Example You take a

personality test and are scored as “assertive”. Three weeks later you take the same test and are scored as “passive”. A drastic change is probably a result of an unreliable test.

Test-Retest Method Comparing subjects’ scores on two administrations of a test.

Correlation Coefficient A numerical index of the degree of relationship (-1, +1)

Objective: The score must not affected by the testers' beliefs or values

Standardized: Must be administered under controlled conditions

Reliable: Must minimize and quantify any intrinsic errors

Predictive: Must make an accurate prediction of performance

Test Norms: The average test score within a large group of people where the performance of one individual can be compared to the results of others by establishing a point of comparison or frame of reference.

Non Discriminatory: Must not disadvantage any group on the basis of gender, culture,

ethnicity, etc.

16 PF: measures 16 basic personality traits Stanford-Binnet intelligence scales  OPQ32 Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth

Edition (WAIS-IV). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality

Inventory for Adolescents (MMPI-A) Gordon’s Personal Profile Inventory Rorschach Ink-Blot Test FIRO-B Children Apperception Test Thematic Apperception Tests (TAT)

Psychological testing is a series of test that measure traits. It also measures feelings, beliefs and abilities that can possibly lead to peoples problems. It is helpful to know the test results. As part of a psychological test a tool is used, which can detect psychological characteristics, such as, current conditions, or endurance characteristics of persons, groups or organizations.

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