Selecting Psychological Tests: A Guide for Counselors
This paper provides a practical overview of the major reference tools and considerations that counselors use when selecting psychological tests and assessments. It surveys four widely used reference directories—Tests in Print (TIP), the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY), Tests, and Test Critiques—as well as relevant online resources. The paper then outlines key client-specific factors a counselor must evaluate before choosing a test, including the construct being measured, the client's age group, educational level, and any behavioral or mental conditions that may affect test validity. Finally, it explains how companion directories and score indexes can help confirm that a specific instrument is appropriate for a given client's needs.
- Introduction to Psychological Test Directories: Overview of psychology test reference libraries and classification
- Major Reference Books for Psychological Testing: Descriptions of TIP, MMY, Tests, and Test Critiques
- Online Resources for Psychological Testing: APA website and Psych Central as supplementary tools
- Key Factors in Selecting a Test for a Client: Client age, school level, purpose, and mental status
- Confirming That a Specific Test Is Appropriate: Using MMY score indexes and test reviews for confirmation
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What makes this paper effective
- Clearly organized around a Q&A structure that mirrors real counselor decision-making, moving from locating tests to evaluating and confirming their appropriateness.
- Provides concrete, specific detail about each directory (publisher, entry contents, scope), giving the reader actionable information rather than vague generalities.
- Distinguishes between bibliographic tools (TIP, Tests) and in-depth evaluative tools (MMY, Test Critiques), helping readers understand how the resources complement one another.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates systematic comparative description: it introduces each reference tool using a consistent set of attributes (publisher, entry structure, scope, and purpose) so that readers can readily compare them. This parallel structure is an effective technique for organizing reference-heavy expository writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper is divided into three functional sections corresponding to the original prompt questions: (1) an overview of directories and online resources for locating tests, (2) a numbered list of client-specific selection criteria, and (3) a brief explanation of how to confirm test appropriateness using detailed companion directories. The conclusion integrates the bibliographic and evaluative tools into a single workflow. The paper is appropriate for undergraduate counseling or psychology coursework and uses APA citation style.
Introduction to Psychological Test Directories
A number of psychology test directories are available in reference libraries to assist counselors in selecting appropriate psychological tests and assessments. These directories typically organize psychology tests according to subject matter, with separate sections for areas such as self-concept, cognitive ability, and personality traits. Each reference book uses its own classification system, which must be taken into account when consulting multiple sources.
For each entry, there is typically a general profile of the test along with related links. The depth of these entries varies depending on whether the book is a bibliography or an in-depth directory. The four most widely used reference book titles are Tests, Tests in Print (TIP), the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY), and Test Critiques.
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