Psychological assessment is basically a judgmental process whereby a broad range of

information, often including the results of psychological tests, is integrated into a meaningful
understanding of a particular person. If that person is a client or patient in a psychotherapeutic
setting, we call the process clinical assessment.

A psychological test is a systematic procedure for obtaining samples of behavior, relevant to

cognitive or affective functioning, and for scoring and evaluating those samples according to
standards.
The meaning of systematic procedure is They are characterized by planning, uniformity, and thoroughness.

Psychological testing is thus a narrower concept referring to the psychometric aspects of a test
(the technical information about the test), the actual administration and scoring of the test, and
the interpretation made of the scores. We could of course assess a client simply by
administering a test or battery (group) of tests. Usually the assessing psychologist also
interviews the client, obtains background information, and where appropriate and feasible,
information fromothers about the client [seeKorchin, 1976, for an excellent discussion of
clinical assessment, and G. J. Meyer, Finn, Eyde, et al. (2001) for a brief overview of
assessment].

Purposes of tests. Tests are used for a wide variety of purposes that can be subsumed
undermore general categories. Many authors identify four categories typically labeled as:
classification, selfunderstanding, program evaluation, and scientific inquiry.

Classification involves a decision that a particular person belongs in a certain category. For
example, based on test results we may assign a diagnosis to a patient, place a student in the
introductory Spanish course rather than the intermediate or advanced course, or certify that a
person has met the minimal qualifications to practice medicine.

Self-understanding involves using test information as a source of information about oneself.

Such information may already be available to the individual, but not in a formal way.Marlene,
for example, is applying to graduate studies in electrical engineering; her high GRE scores
confirm what she already knows, that she has the potential abilities required for graduate work.

Program evaluation involves the use of tests to assess the effectiveness of a particular program
or course of action. You have probably seen in the newspaper, tables indicating the average
achievement test scores for various schools in your geographical area, with the scores often
taken, perhaps incorrectly, as evidence of the competency level of a particular school. Program
evaluation may involve the assessment of the campus climate at a particular college, or the
value of a drug abuse program offered by a mental health clinic, or the effectiveness of a new
medication.

Tests are also used in scientific inquiry. If you glance through most professional journals in the
social and behavioral sciences, you will find that a large majority of studies use psychological
tests to operationally define relevant variables and to translate hypotheses into numerical
statements that can be assessed statistically. Some argue that development of a field of science
is, in large part, a function of the available measurement techniques (Cone & Foster, 1991;
Meehl, 1978).

Tests designed to sample skills, knowledge, or any other cognitive function will be referred to
as ability tests; all others will be labeled as personality tests.
Similarities and Differences Among Psychological Tests
Similarities
 All psychological tests require an individual to perform a behavior.
 The behavior performed is used to measure some construct.
 The construct is thought to be important in describing or understanding behavior.
 The behavior performed may also be used to predict outcomes.

Differences
 Psychological tests can differ in terms of the following:
 The behavior they require the test taker to perform
 The construct they measure
 Their content
 How they are administered and formatted
 How they are scored and interpreted
 Their psychometric quality

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT VERSUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

Basis Psychological Testing Psychological Assessment

Simpler; involves one More complex; each assessment involves
Degree of
uniform procedure, frequently various procedures interviewing,
complexity
unidi mensional. observation, testing,etc) and dimension
Shorter, lasting from a few Longer, lasting from a few hours to a few
Duration
minutes to a few hours. days or more.
One person, the test taker. Often collateral sources, such as relatives
Sources of or teachers, are
data used in addition to the subject of the
assessment.
How one person or group The uniqueness of a given invidual,
Focus compares group, or situation (idiographic).
with others (nomothetic)
Knowledge of tests and Knowledge of testing and other
Qualifications testing procedures. assessment methods as well as of the area
for use assessed (e.g., psychiatric
disorders, job requirements).
Objectivity required; Subjectivity, in the form of clin ical
Procedural
quantifica tion is critical. judgment, required; quantification
basis
rarely possible.
Inexpensive, especially when Very expensive; requires intensive use of
Cost
testing is done in groups. highly qualified professionals.
Obtaining data for use in Arriving at a decision concerning the
Purpose making referral question or
decisions. problem.
 Degree of Highly structured. Entails both structured and unstructured
structure aspects.
Relatively simple Very difficult due to variability of
Evaluation of investigation of reliability and methods, assessors, nature of presenting
results validity based on group questions, etc.
results.

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

psychological tests as we know them today came into being in the early part of the 20th century.
Prior to the rise of urban, industrial, democratic societies, there was little need for most people
to make decisions about others, outside of those in their immediate families or close circle of
acquaintances. In rural, agrarian, autocratic societies, major life decisions about individuals
were largely made for them by parents, mentors, rulers and, above all, by the gender, class,
place, and circumstances into which people were born. Nonetheless, well before the 20th
century, there are several interesting precursors of modern psychological testing within a
variety of cultures and contexts.
Antecedents of Modern Testing in the Occupational Realm

Sejarah tes psikologi

Pertengahan hingga akhir tahun 1800 SM doker dan Psikiater mengembangkan prosedur
standar mengungkap ciri serta luasnya gejala pada orang yang sakit mental dan cedera otak.
Test psikologi moderen berkembang di Eropa selama akhir dekade 1800 SM
Wilhem Wundt mendirikan lab psikologi pertama di Lepzing, Jerman.
Test mentak pertama tahun 1890 oleh James Mckeen Cuttle
Akhir dekade 1800 SM muncul humanism baru terhadap orang yang terbelakang secara mental.
Alferd Binet menemukan test intelegensi pertama
Pada tahun1905 binet dan simon mmengembangkan test intelegensi pertama di Paris, Prancis
Pada tahun 1908, Binet dan Simon mempublikasikan skala revisi
Pada tahun1912 Stein mengajukan pembagian unsur mental dengan unsur kronologisya untuk
9pksi) pembagian intelegensi
Pada tahun 1916 usulan Terman melahirkan konsep iQ.