Psychological Testing and Assessment

¶ … assist counselors in selecting psychological tests and/or assessments?

There are a number of psychology test directories available in reference libraries. Thee directories typically contain a directory of psychology tests organized according to subject matter. For example, there will be separate sections for self-concept, cognitive ability, personality traits, etc. Each reference book will have its own system of classification so this must be taken into account.

For each entry, there is typically a general profile of the psychology tests and related links. The nature of these entries will vary depending on whether the book is a bibliography or whether it is in-depth directory. The four most popular reference book titles are Tests, Tests in Print (TIP), the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY), and Test Critiques (APA).

Tests In Print is a bibliographic encyclopedia of information on every published and commercially available test in psychology and achievement. It is published by Buros Institute for Mental Measurements. (Buros Institute). Each test entry consists of the test title, intended population, publication date, acronym, author, publisher, foreign adaptations, and references. TIP was created to serve as a master index to the whole Buros Institute reference series on tests, including the 15 MMYs and the monograph series.

The Mental Measurement Yearbook, tests are listed alphabetically by title. It is published by Buros Institute for Mental Measurements. Each entry provides descriptive information, such as the test name, intended population, publication dates, forms and prices, test author, and publisher. It also contains additional information on the extent to which reliability, validity, normative data, scoring and reporting services, and foreign language versions are available. Most entries also include one or more reviews of the test and testing materials by qualified psychologists. (APA).

Tests is a bibliographic encyclopedia containing information on thousands of testing instruments in psychology, education, and business. It is published by Pro-Ed. (Pro-Ed). It provides concise descriptions of tests, with each entry including the test title and author, the intended population, the tests purpose, the major features, the administration time, the scoring method, the cost and availability, and the primary publisher. Also, a scanning line uses coded visual keys to indicate whether the test is self-or examiner-administered. (APA).

Test Critiques is also published by Pro-Ed and is designed to be a companion to Tests and contains supplemental information designated as 'not appropriate for inclusion in Tests. This includes psychometric information such as reliability, validity, and norm development. The tri-part entry for each test includes an Introduction, Practical Applications/Uses, and Technical Aspects, followed by a critique. The Introduction describes the test in detail, including information on the authors and publisher and the purpose of the test. Practical Applications/Uses gives information aimed toward the test user, including intended population, administration, scoring, and interpretation procedures. Technical Aspects includes citations from reliability and validity studies and opinions from experts regarding the technical adequacy of the test.

There are a number of websites dedicated to psychology and psychology testing. One of the most important websites for the field of psychology in general is the American Psychological Association. On that website, there are a number of valuable resources concerning psychology testing. There is a Frequently Asked Questions section that has valuable advice on the correct usage of personality tests, as well as essential advice on the appropriate attribution procedures for unpublished personality tests.

Another great source for individual, online psychology tests is Psych Central, a magazine-style website devoted to trends in psychology. (Psych Central). This website is particularly valuable for finding newer psychological tests that have not been included in the above-named directories, which are not updated every year. It is also useful for identifying emerging trends in psychology and the resources used to explore those trends.

What are 4-5 important issues a counselor should consider when selecting a psychological test for a client?

First, the counselor should be clear about what it is she is testing the patient for, e.g. personality traits, cognitive functions, self-concept, etc. Then, she has to make sure that the test is intended to measure that particular trait.

The counselor then has to make sure that the test is appropriate for the client's particular age group. There are certain tests, especially in the areas of cognitive function, that are designed for people at a certain level of physiological development.

The counselor then has to make sure that the test is appropriate for the patient's particular school level. School level is a large determinant of what reading level a student will have. Some tests contain vocabulary and more abstract concepts that are not normally covered below certain schooling levels.