Unit-1 : Psychological Assessment
In this unit you’ll know the Nature, Purpose, Methods of assessment,
Evaluation, Testing, Principal of Assessment, and Ethical
Consideration.
by
Dr. Ved Prakash Rawat
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Vasanta College For Women
Admitted to Privileges of Banaras Hindu University
Rajghat Fort, Varanasi.
Important Concepts
• Test ???
• Measurement????
• Assessment???
• Evaluation????
Important Concepts
• Test is used to gather information.
• That information is presented in the form of
Measurement.
• That measurement is then used to make
Evaluation.
• An Assessment is seen as a “procedure”
instead of a product.
Assessment, Measurement, Evaluation and Testing
• Measurement, Assessment and Evaluation are
unique terms widely employed interchangeably in
the educational context.
Assessment
• An assessment is seen as a “procedure” instead
of a product.
• It is a systematic basis for making inferences
about the learning and development of
students/individual and the process of gathering
information about students/individual learning
and performance.
Assessment, Measurement, Evaluation and Testing
• Measurement
Measurement is assigning numbers to represent
how much of a particular quality a
student/individual has demonstrated.
• Evaluation
Evaluation is the process of interpreting that
information and making judgments about what
has been learned.
Nature of Psychological Assessment
• A Psychological assessment is a series of tests
conducted by a psychologist, to gather
information about how people think, feel,
behave and react.
• This process of assessment makes use of
psychological tests or other qualitative
method.
• Therefore, it is a process of collecting
information which can be formal, informal,
qualitative and quantitative.
Nature of Psychological Assessment
• The findings are used to develop a report of the
person’s abilities and behavior—known as a
psychological report—which is then used as a basis
to make recommendations for the individual’s
treatment and for other relevant work.
• Thus, a psychological assessment is the attempt of
a skilled professional, usually a psychologist, to
use the techniques and tools of psychology to learn
either general or specific facts about another
person, either to inform others of how they
function now, or to predict their behaviour and
functioning in the future.
Purpose of Psychological Assessment
• Classification: classifying individuals into
different groups to give them different treatment
• Screening/Segregation (PRITHAKKARAN): who
has the attribute in specific magnitude
• Placement/: Assigning individuals to differential
programs or jobs
• Certification: has a pass fail quality
• Selection: for eg. Identifying best candidates for
a job.
Purpose of Psychological Assessment
• Comparison: comparing individuals on abilities
(useful in research)
• Diagnosis & Treatment: help in identifying
strengths and weakness, predicting problem
areas, assess progress
• Research: measuring the effect of one variable
on another
• Program Evaluation: Analysing the effects of
social and educational programs.
• Self knowledge: Revealing or confirming
information about one’s own attributes
Principle of Psychological Assessment
• Practicality - व्यावहाररकता
• Reliability -
• Validity -
• Authenticity - (प्रमाणिकता)
• Utility – (उपयोगिता)
Principle of Practicality - व्यवहाररकता
• This principle refers to the time and cost
constraints during the construction and
administration of an assessment instrument.
Meaning that
– The test should be economical to provide.
– The format of the test should be simple to understand.
– Moreover, solving a test should remain within suitable
time.
– It is generally simple to administer.
– Its assessment procedure should be particular and
time-efficient.
Principle of Authenticity प्रामाणिकता
• The assessment device should provide
an authentic, real measure of the
attribute being measured
• It should be rooted in theory or research
Principle of Utility - उपयोगिता
• The assessment device should have utility for the
population it is developed for.
• Its results should have a positive consequence.
• Adding something to the knowledge of the person
or group.
Psychological Testing
• A psychological test is used to measure an
individual’s different abilities, such as their
attitude, interest, aptitude in a particular field,
cognitive functions like memory and spatial
recognition, or even traits like introvertedness.
• These tests are based on scientifically tested
psychological theories.
• The format of a test can vary from pencil and
paper tasks to computer-based ones.
• They include activities such as puzzle-solving,
drawing, logic problem solving, and memory
games.
Psychological Testing
• Some tests also use techniques—known as
projective techniques—which aim to access
the unconscious.
• Psychological tests may also involve observing
someone’s interactions and behavior.
• Based on the result of the test, an inference will
be drawn about the individual’s inherent
abilities and potential.
Psychological Evaluation
• Psychological evaluation is a method to assess
an individual's behavior, personality, cognitive
abilities, and several other domains.
• A common reason for a psychological evaluation
is to identify psychological factors that may be
inhibiting a person's ability to think, behave, or
regulate emotion functionally or constructively.
• It is the mental equivalent of physical
examination.
Psychological Evaluation
• Other psychological evaluations seek to better
understand the individual's unique characteristics
or personality.
• Psychological evaluations typically include a
variety of components, including formal
questionnaires, checklists, surveys, interviews,
and behavioral observations.
• The specific types of evaluation and the depth of
the evaluation will vary with each
patient/clients/individual, but in general the
process usually takes between one and two hours.
Understanding the Significance of
Psychological Tests
• Assessment and Diagnosis: Psychologists use tests to assess and
diagnose mental health disorders, providing a basis for treatment
planning.
• Research and Academia : In the realm of research and academia,
psychological tests are indispensable for studying human behavior and
mental processes.
• Employment and Education : Many organizations use psychological
tests for employee selection and educational assessment.
• However, with great power comes great
responsibility, and the use of psychological tests
must be conducted with the utmost/Especial
ethical considerations in mind.
Ethical Issues/Consideration
in Psychological Testing
• There are serious concerns, on the part of both
psychologists and lay people, about the nature of
psychological testing and its potential misuse, as
well as demands for increased use of tests.
• The Ethical issues/considerations in the use of
psychological tests is intricate, encompassing a
range of issues. Some of the most prominent
concerns:
Some of the most prominent concerns:
1- Informed Consent
• Informed consent is a fundamental ethical
principle. Test takers must fully understand the
purpose, procedures, and potential consequences
of the test. Failure to obtain informed consent
can lead to severe ethical breaches.
2- Confidentiality and Privacy
• Protecting the confidentiality and privacy of test
results is vital. Psychologists should ensure that
only authorized individuals have access to this
sensitive information.
Ethical Issues/Consideration
in Psychological Testing
.3- Fairness and Cultural Bias
• Psychological tests should be culturally sensitive
and free from biases that may disadvantage
certain groups. Test developers must strive to
create instruments that are fair and impartial.
4- Competence and Qualifications
• Only qualified professionals should administer
and interpret psychological tests. Incompetence
can lead to misinterpretation and misuse of test
results, potentially harming individuals.
Ethical Issues/Consideration
in Psychological Testing
5-Test Selection and Appropriateness
• Choosing the right test for a specific purpose is
crucial. Using an inappropriate test can yield
inaccurate results and impact decision-making.
6- Feedback and Debriefing
• Test takers have the right to receive feedback and
debriefing after the test. It is an ethical obligation
to explain the results and provide guidance on
their implications.
APA ETHICS CODE
• The American Psychological Association has
since 1953 published and revised ethical
standards, with the most recent publication of
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of
Conduct in 2002.
• This code of ethics also governs, both implicitly
and explicitly, psychologist's use of psychological
tests.
Ethical Principles
• The Ethics Code contains six general principles:
• i) Competence: Psychologists maintain high
standards of competence, including knowing their
own limits of expertise.
• ii) Integrity: Psychologists seek to act with
integrity in all aspects of their professional roles.
As a test author for example, a psychologist
should not make unwarranted claims about a
particular test.
Ethical Principles
• iii)Professional and scientific responsibility:
Psychologists uphold professional standards of
conduct. In psychological testing this might
require knowing when test data can be useful and
when it cannot.
• iv) Respect for people's rights and dignity:
Psychologists respect the privacy and
confidentiality of clients and have an awareness of
cultural, religious, and other sources of individual
differences.
Ethical Principles
• v) Concern for others' welfare: Psychologists
are aware of situations where specific tests may
be detrimental to a particular client. How can
these situations be resolved so that both the needs
of society and the welfare of the individual are
protected?
• vi) Social responsibility: Psychologists have
professional and scientific responsibilities to
community and society. With regard to
psychological testing, this might cover counseling
against the misuse of tests by the local school.
Ethical Standards
• In addition to these six principles, there are
specific ethical standards that cover eight
categories, ranging from "General standards" to
"Resolving ethical issues.“
• The second category is titled, "Evaluation,
assessment, or intervention" and is thus the area
most explicitly related to testing; this category
covers 10 specific standards:
Ethical Standards
• 1)-Psychological procedures such as testing,
evaluation, diagnosis, etc., should occur only
within the context of a defined professional
relationship.
• 2)-Psychologists only use tests in appropriate
ways.
• 3)-Tests are to be developed using acceptable
scientific procedures.
• 4)-When tests are used, there should be
familiarity with and awareness of the limitations
imposed by psychometric issues.
Ethical Standards
• 5)-Assessment results are to be interpreted in light of
the limitations.
• 6)-Unqualified persons should not use psychological
assessment techniques.
• 7)-Tests that are obsolete and outdated should not be
used.
• 8)-The purpose, norms, and other aspects of a test
should be described accurately.
• 9)-Appropriate explanations of test results should be
given.
• 10)-The integrity and security of tests should be
maintained.
THANK YOU
