Psychological Assessment

Running head: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
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Psychological Assessment
Student Name
Institution Affiliation

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Table of Contents
Introduction and overview.............................................................................................................3
Achievement test............................................................................................................................5
The Objective of the Achievement Test......................................................................................6
Intelligence Test.............................................................................................................................7
Ability Testing.................................................................................................................................9
Neuropsychological Testing..........................................................................................................10
Personality Testing.......................................................................................................................12
Industrial, Occupational and Career Assessments........................................................................14
Forensic Assessment.....................................................................................................................15
Special Topic: Culture and Testing................................................................................................16
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................17
References....................................................................................................................................19

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Introduction and overview
Tests are evaluations that may be written, verbal or visuals that are administered
to children and adults to access their cognitive and emotional functioning. The tests and
evaluation tools are used in mental abilities and attribute assess ion including personality,
achievement and neurological functioning. The following are types of tests that are
frequently used in the evaluation
Intelligence test, it is used to measure the ability to understand surroundings, intelligence
or interaction with the environment. They include; -the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
(WAIS), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and Stanford-Binet
Intelligence Scale (SB)
Personality test, it is used to measure personal behavior and characters. They are
most commonly known in studies when is researching and also assist in clinical
diagnosis. They include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI),
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and Rorschach or ‘inkblot test'. Attitude tests, they
are used to measure a person’s feeling concerning a specific event, place or object.
Achievement test used to determine the level of a person understands a specific type of
topic. They include the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) and Peabody
Individual Achievement (PIAT)
Aptitude test measures abilities in a particular area for instance in clerical skills.
The following are examples of Aptitude tests, Bloomberg Aptitude Test (BAT), Armed
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) while Psychological assessment is the
process of administering psychological tests whereby there is a combination of
techniques that assist in coming up with hypotheses about an individual with his

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personality, capabilities, and behavior (David, 2012). It is also referred to as
psychological testing or other words psychological battery on an individual.
Reliability and validity are the main concepts in the study of psychological
assessment theories and techniques. They are mostly applied in research and
psychological assessments. Reliability can be described as the consistency and
reproducibility of data from a given method or experiment. The technique is reliable
when it produces stable and similar results repeatedly and consistent conditions. Validity
in simple language can mean to how well a test measures a characteristic and to what
characteristic the test can be measured. According to psychometrics, it is called test
validity which is defined as the degree to which a given type of theory is supported by the
evidence (Yaacov & Steven, 2019). It is always established when there is a specific
purpose, for example, is used in making valid predictions about an individual's level of
study on a job may not be valid for predicting his leadership quality.
Psychological testing and assessment in many ways are alike to medical tests. For
instance, when a person is sick, the doctor may refer him to the laboratory for some test.
It is from this test results that the doctor will understand the sickness and develop a plan
for treatment. Psychological tests and assessments also serve the same purpose. It is from
these tests that a psychologist will evaluate and understand person characteristics. A good
example is when a person has some issues at his workplace or in a relationship. A
psychologist will administer tests and evaluate whether he might have issues with anger
management and or interpersonal skills. Psychological tests and assessment helps
psychologist know the nature of the issue or problem and come up with ways of
addressing the problem.

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Not everyone can conduct psychological tests, it is only trained and certified
psychologists administer it. Each type of analysis has got its own specific requirements,
one needs to meet a specific set of qualification for him to administer a specific type of
test. Psychologists and a counselor who has undergone appropriate academic course may
administer the occupational test. Psychiatrists can also administer specific clinical tests.
Despite ethnical background, psychologists are much informed of how their own cultural
background, value, attitudes, and biases influence psychological processes and they
always put effort to rectify any prejudices and biases.
Achievement test
It is a psychological test used to measure how a person understands a particular
type of topic. It is designed to measure the knowledge of an individual in something that
has been taught. Teachers in school use it to measure what their students have attained
(Lange, 2010). Employers use it to measure the competence of their employees.
Professionals associations use achievement test to eliminate applicants who do not
qualify from the ones who qualify in a practice of the profession. An achievement test is
applicable in places where there is a need to distinguish or separate people of higher from
those of lower competence.
Types of Achievement test
There are various categories of achievement test which are based on the form,
purpose, time and method and subject area. They can also be of different forms such as

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oral tests, written tests, and practical tests and their items being an essay, questions or
short answer questions.
Achievement tests based on purpose include diagnostic tests, prognostic test,
power test, and spit test. When based on time or period factor, the test is a weekly test,
quarterly test, daily test, summative test half yearly test, annually test.
On the basis of subject, they are grouped as language tests, spelling tests, geography test,
reading test, mathematical test, history test, science test. All these achievements tests can
be basically categorized into two based on the quality of standardized test and teacher
test.
The Objective of the Achievement Test
The old system of examination or the essay type was highly rejected by all. Pupils
denied it due to its pressure. It used to mount pressure on pupils which used to affect
them even psychologically. It was also criticized by guardians and parents for it had
injurious effects on their children's mental and physical health. Teachers used to
complain every now and then on it because of the harmful effect it had on the school
work. To psychologists and health professionals in psychology, it lacked reliability and
validity. For educational theorist, they used to attack it since it lacked definiteness in aim
and purpose.
An objective test is a test that has right or wrong answers and so can be marked
objectively. The objective test is closely associated with the subjective test which uses
giving an opinion as a way of evaluation. The objective tests are very popular due to the
several advantages they offer to the users. Objective tests came and got rid of the evils of
essay type of examinations and replaced it. It is very useful and modern educationists