Introduction to Psychological Testing

Introduction to Psychological scrutiny Psy 475 October 22, 2012 Introduction to Psychological runninging The history of temperament and cognition examination, dates to the beginning World War II. In psychology, clinicians use mental runs as a tool to servicing attend in finding important information in regard to the behaviors of an individual or a group. There is a major difference between perpetual examen and examen use for psychological purposes. There be unlike tests that jakes be administered to turn back specific abilities or come in the characteristics of an individual.This base will define the term test, describe the major categories of tests, and nominate the major uses and users of these tests. Also this paper will also discuss the equation and contrast the concepts of dependability and rigourousness and explain how they affect psychological scrutiny. Test concord to Hogan, a test is a standardized attend to employ to provide information about speci fic behaviors or cognitive process through standardized procedures. Psychological tests atomic number 18 a battery of tests that judge and measurement functions of emotions and behaviors in human beings.The test batteries atomic number 18 composed of interviews, and judicial decisions that cerebrate on specific areas such as learning, memory, attention, and academic capabilities. Tests can be conducted in various ways such as verbal, visual, oral, and written assessments or evaluation. Information gathered from standardized tests are useful and effective because they categorize specific behaviors with scores and provide results, which are original and valid. Psychological testing can be performed by licensed sea captains such as clinical psychologists, counseling, and school psychologist.Major categories of tests, Uses and Users Psychological tests provide a platform for providing information and insight, which helps to get through a better understanding of human behaviors . There different types of tests are apply to measure various contexts of specific areas of behavior. According to Chadha, Psychological tests are grouped into some(prenominal) categories, which include personality, mental ability, attitude, achievement, and neuropsychological tests. These test can be administered to an individual alone or to a group of people.According to Hogan intuition test focuses on various functions of the individual who measures potential and basic ability, such as memory, cognitive functions, thinking skill, and visualization. Two of the most popular intelligence test are the Stanford-Binet and the Wechsler Intelligence Tests. Achievement and aptitude tests are normally used in educational or employment settings. Educators and employers use these tests to position how much an individual knows about a certain topic, such as academic subject or employment position.Educators use achievement tests to identify and compare abilities of students, while employer s use these tests to identify talents, interests, and special skills (2008). According to Hogan, personality tests are customaryly used in look for and forensic settings to financial aid with providing a clinical diagnosis by measuring personality styles. personality test is set up in two, formats. The first consists of yes or no questions and the second questions are true or false.According to Hogan, interests and attitudes are mainly used for high school and college students to identify interests related to job fields. The most common test used to measure and identify vocational interests is the Strong have-to doe with Inventory (SII) or the Kuder Career Search (Hogan, 2007). The last category of testing is the neuropsychological tests. These types of test focus cognitive abilities as related to top dog functions such as thinking, reasoning, memory and motor coordination.According to Hogan, uses and users of psychological tests include clinical, educational, personnel, and r esearch settings. Clinical settings such as counseling and psychology use testing to identify the nature or severity of a specific hassle or a behavior. The testing results are used to develop interference plans used to carry out interventions for therapeutic application. According to Hogan, educators use assessment as a tool for assessing levels of student learning and abilities in efforts to help the student improve.Another major user of psychological testing are businesses. force and employment testing jibe to Hogan, was developed to identify and select the trump candidates for employment positions. Employers also use testing to conduct performance and forwarding evaluations. The last use of testing involves research. According to Hogan researchers use testing as a viable part of research studies because they are replicable and provide reliable information that useful and valid.Compare and Contrast Reliability and Validity Test reliability and rigorousness are very import ant concept of testing. These tools used to measure the data that has been collected for the test to acquire if the results are sustainable and effective. According to Hogan reliability is meant to be consistent and dependable. A reliable test provides the alike scores continuously for an individual. Test reliability relies on specific criteria to determine the quality and accuracy of psychological measurements (Chadha, 2009).To determine reliability there are five methods that can be used to estimate test scores. These methods identify the proportion of the score, which may include error variances. Although these methods are used to determine reliability and identify errors there various factors, which can affect the results of the reliability of a test. Test severity is an important aspect of test evaluations. The validity of the tests focuses on specific criteria used to ensure that testing concept meets requirements and professional standards of scientific research methods.Th ere are two common methods used to test validity, the first is criterion validity and content validity. According to Chadha, content validity focuses on the selection of items for ability and achievement test judgments are used to identify the usefulness or application of the test. Criterion validity according to Chadha, focuses on the ability of test score used to observe behaviors or other information gathered from the test. Reliability and validity test the identical aspects of a test but in a different manner.Reliability is more(prenominal) focused on the stability of a test score and validity evaluates this information based on specific criteria (Chadha, 2009). Conclusion In finishing psychological testing is used to provide, identify, and measure characteristics, abilities and the behaviors of an individual or a group. There various types of testing be used in several contexts, which provide valuable information to the test examine. Several fields or professions rely on tes ting to provide information that can be used for purposes of assessments, treatment, learning, and identifying needs. Reliability and alidity methods are used to ensure that the information get from testing is effective and properly used for the purpose intended. References Chadha, N. K. (2009). Introduction to psychological testing. In Applied psychometry. (pp. 71-87). New Delhi SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd. doi 10. 4135/9788132108221. n5 Hogan, T. P. (2007). Psychological testing A practical introduction (2nd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ Wiley. psychological test. (2008). In The capital of South Carolina Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http//www. credoreference. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/entry/columency/psychological_test