Sometimes in a while, when you have signs of headache and malaria, you visit a doctor, who will recommend some tests to establish a specific cause of your sickness. The results of the test will determine the treatment. This is the same as a psychological test. They both serve the same purposes but in different ways.
Psychological tests refer to evaluations or assessments administered by a psychologist, therapist, or clinician; to assess the emotional and cognitive functioning of adults and children through three different techniques. Such as written, visual, computer, and verbal.
Unlike the medical tests you are familiar with, psychologists are used to evaluating individual attributes and emotional and mental abilities, including emotional intelligence, aptitude and attitude, achievement and vocational tests, neurological functioning, and personality types.
Importance of psychological tests to children
Psychologists use psychological tests to assess children’s academic achievement. Intelligence and the ability to use different skills determine the child’s capability. Some schools run psychological tests on children to assess their intelligence level, learning ability, and the presence of a learning disability. They also help in diagnosing some difficulties relating to mental health and personality disorders.
Importance of psychological tests to adults
Adults take psychological tests for so many reasons. It could be for psychological diagnoses, academic placements, research purposes, identifying certain behaviors, and job placements. In most companies, before employing a candidate, the candidate is given psychological tests to determine their level of specialty and capacity to carry on for the job. For example, some people are good at the motor and technical skills, whereas others might be good at analytical and mathematics skills. With the result of the psychological test, these individuals are placed in the rightful position that demands their knowledge and expertise.
Settings where psychological tests are used;
Schools (preschool, primary and secondary)
Psychological tests in these settings help healthcare professionals identify a child’s strengths and weaknesses. Once the scores of the tests are determined, the test administrator can identify areas where the students or children need to improve. Both schools and parents view the administration of the psychological examination as a practical exercise that supports students in attaining success in school.
Psychological tests in Colleges and Universities
Psychological tests in colleges and universities serve the same as in preschool and secondary. In addition, they use these tests to evaluate depression and anti-social behavior in college students. And other mental activities such as cognition and emotional reactivity, and give recommendations for treatment for such mental disabilities.
Psychological Test In Hospitals
Psychological tests allow mental health practitioners to determine the reliability and validity of diagnoses. They run tests on cognitive functioning, psychiatric disorder, and neurological tests to help determine the type of treatment to prescribe for the patients.
Psychological Test in Social agencies
Social agencies such as child welfare agencies, shelters for homeless families, and community youth-based programs can apply psychological tests to determine the individual’s emotional state.
Outpatient healthcare settings
Phycological tests are tests that help to unravel psychological, mental, and emotional problems. These tests give the bases for treatment of the specific situation or disability.
Features of psychological tests
These are the four features of psychological tests.
- Validity: The term validity comes from the Latin word “Validus,” meaning strong. The term validity in psychological tests refers to the accuracy of the tests. How accurate are the test results? The accuracy of a psychological test result will determine how valid the test result will be.
- Reliability: This feature represents the consistency of the test results. For the test to be consistent, it should maintain and contain what it aims to measure. For example, a high consistency test will keep the same score even when another administrator or observer tests it.
- Objectivity. This means that for a test result to be recognized or accepted, it will be free from bias or any subjective opinion.
- Standardization: The test must be standard in terms of the assessment’s place, material, and time.
Types of psychological tests
- Personality test
- Attitude test
- Achievements tests
- Emotional intelligent tests
- Aptitude tests
- Intelligence test
- Projective test
- Neuropsychological tests
- Observational tests
Personality tests:
Personality test evaluates an individual’s personality. It assesses our emotions, environmental and behavioral traits. And other psychological problems, like personality disorders. Types of personality tests are; the Disc assessment and the Rosharck Inblok test.
Attitude test:
Psychological tests help to reveal people’s emotions and beliefs that influence how they evaluate others, things, and events.
As the name implies measures people’s attitudes in other to know people’s beliefs and behaviors.
Achievement tests:
These are tests to determine the level of understanding and learning that has taken place in individuals. For example, students take an examination to know the status of personal knowledge or experience.
Emotional intelligent tests:
These tests evaluate an individual’s ability to perceive, identify, manage, and understand emotions. An example is Mayer- Salovey – Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT)
Aptitude Tests:
Schools use these tests primarily as exams, to determine an individual strength to succeed in each activity. Therefore, most colleges or universities recommend aptitude tests for an individual seeking admission. The score of the tests will determine if the student can take the course they want to study.
Intelligence tests:
Healthcare professionals use these tests to score people’s cognitive performance or abilities—this practice and theory measure individuals’ performance on different diagnostic criteria.
Projective tests:
These tests involve the presentation of ambiguous stimuli to the testee to respond. These tests reveal individual internal conflicts and hidden emotions projected by the person into the test.
Neuropsychological tests:
Clinicians assess neuropsychological tests from patient to individual to determine neurological issues. It involves diligently and comprehensively assessing and recognizing brain or cognitive disorders. Courts use it for forensic investigation and competence to stand trial.
Observational tests:
It is a test that requires careful recording of individual behavior; it could be in a lab or field. In conclusion, psychological tests can be used for different reasons to establish concrete evidence of specific problems and causes so that there will be a solution to these problems.
Psychological tests can be taken by an adult, child, or teenager. It serves the same purpose as medical tests but with different approaches.
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