• A psychological test is a standardized

measure of a sample of a person’s

behavior that is used to measure the
individual differences that exist among
people.

• A psychological test is an objective and

standardized measure of an
individual's mental a n d / o r behavioral
characteristics.
 • Apsychological test is a systematic
procedure for obser ving aperson’s
behavior or performance, describing it
with the aid of a numerical scale or
category system.

• Mostly tests are used as a way of

measuring differences between people or
differences in the same person over time.
 Psychological testing is a field
characterized by the use of samples
of behavior, most often administered
as a series of items in which the
individual must give a response, in
order to assess psychological
construct(s), such as ability, cognitive
and emotional functioning, or
personality.


The technical term for the science behind

psychological testing is psychometrics.

Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with

the theory and technique of psychological
measurement, which includes the measurement of
knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality
traits,and educational measurement.
• Psychological tests are used to assess a variety
of mental abilities and attributes, including
achievement and ability, personality,
and neurological functioning.

• To measure aspects of mental ability,

aptitude or personality of a person . It
may be used as part of the recruitment or
selection process
 • Provide employer s with a method of
selecting the most suitable job
applicants or candidates for promotion

• Personality tests are administered for a

wide variety of reasons, from
diagnosing psychopat hology (e.g.,
personality disorder, depressive disorder)
to screening job candidates.
• Psychological tests are used in research,
however, most serve a practical purpose such
as schooling, job qualifications, etc.
• may be used as tools in school
placement, in determining the
presence of a learning disability or a
developmental delay in identifying
gif tedness, or in tracking
intellectual development.
• They may be used in an educational setting
to determine personality
 Ident if ies Weaknesses and St rengt hs: Norm-
referenced and group-administered achievement
tests are the most common types administered in
schools.
 Suppor ts Individualized Lesson Plans:
Psychological testing in schools can identify
students with disabilities or delayed skills and
determine their eligibility for receiving individualized
lesson plans free of charge to families.
 Enables Placement Decisions
 Monitors Progress
 • Identifying Disabilities: Learning disabilities can
be very hard to identify, but psychological testing helps in
detecting areas in which students are having difficulties.
• Advancement: Psychological testing is also important
in helping the school administration and teachers to
evaluate students’ academic achievements and make
decisions about their advancement.
• Vocational Ability: The results of a psychological test
can also assist parents, teachers and students ascertain
the vocational ability of thechild.
There are two types of Psychological tests.
• Mental Ability tests
• Personality tests

Both of these types of tests devided into sub-

categories of testing.
Includes three subcategories.
 Intelligence tests- General
 Aptitude tests- Specific
 Achievement tests
 Measure general
mental abilities.
 Measure motives,
interests, values, and
attitudes
 They are intended to
measure intellectual
potential.
Aptitude Tests
- Assess talent for
specific kinds of
lea r nin g. (cler ical
speed, mechanical
reasoning, etc.)
 Scholastic Aptitude Tests
• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
• American College Testing (ACT)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Vocational/Career Aptitude Tests
• Armed Ser vices Vocational
Aptitude Test Batter y (ASVAB)
• O*NET Ability Profiler
• Dif ferential Aptitude Test(DAT)
 Gauge a
person’s
mastery and
knowledge
of various
subjects
 Measure
aspects of
personality,
including
motives,
interests,
values, and
attitudes .
 Standardization
Test norms Standardization
group

Reliability

Correlation coefficient
Validity

Content validity Criterion-related

validity Construct
 Standardization is k n o w n as the
uniform procedures used in
administrating and scoring a test.
 Test norms information used to
r a n k scores in relation to other scores
on the test.
 Examples
• What psychologist  Very simply, validity is
promoted the extent to which a test
introspection? measures what it is
• Who developed the supposed to measure.
four mechanisms for
 It refers to the ability of a
dreaming?
test to measure what it
• What school of was designed to
psychology does
Skinner belong to?
• Reliability refers to the
measurement consistency

of a test o r
other techniques.

E x a m ple
Yo u t a k e a personality test and a r e scored as
“assertive”. T hree weeks later you t a k e the
same test and are scored as “passive”.
A drastic change is probably a result of an
unreliable test.
Test-Retest Method
 Comparing subjects’ scores on two
a d m i n istra tio ns of a test.
C o r r e l a t i o n Coefficient
 A n u merica l index of the
degree of rela tionship (-1,
+1)
 Objective:
The score must not affected by the testers' beliefs
or values
Standardized:
Must be administered under controlled
conditions
Reliable:
Must minimize and quantify any intrinsic errors
Predictive :
Must make an accurate prediction of
performance
Test Norms:
The average test score within a large group of
people where the performance of one individual
can be compared to the results of others by
establishing a point of comparison or frame of
reference.
Non Discriminatory:
Must not disadvantage any group on the
basis of gender, culture, ethnicity, etc.
• 16 PF: measures 16 basic personality traits
Stanford-Binnet intelligence scales
• OPQ32
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale— Fourth
Edition (WAIS-IV).
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventor yfor Adolescents (MMPI-A)
• Gordon’s Personal Profile Inventor y
Rorschach Ink-Blot Test
• FIRO-B
• Children Apperception Test
• Thematic Apperception Tests (TAT)
Psychological testing is a series of test that
measure traits. It also measures feelings, beliefs
and abilities that can possibly lead to peoples
problems. It is helpful to know the test results.
As par t of a psychological test a tool is used,
which can detect psychological characteristics,
such as, current conditions, or endurance
characteristics of persons, groups or
organizations.