Ethical Issues In

Psychological Testing
and Assessment
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Brief History
Since the 1970s there has been a heightened
concern not only with ethical problems but also
with broader questions of values in all fields of
both theoretical and applied psychology(Bersoff,
1995 et al. )
In the testing area, thoughtful and provocative
analyses of the role of values and the underlying
ethical rationale of various practices have been
presented by Eyde and Quiantance (1998)
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One of the standards – Evaluation, Assessment

or Intervention is directly concerned with the
development and use of psychological
assessment techniques.
Moreover, the ethical standard on Privacy and
Confidentiality is highly relevant to testing as are
most of the other general principles and several
of the ethical standard (APA, 1992).
The RUST statement, Responsibilities of Users
of Standardized Tests adopted in 1989 by the
American Counseling Association (ACA)
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Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection

Procedures developed by the Society for Industrial and
Organizational Psychology (SIOP-1987)

A significant event in clarifying the place of testing in modern

society was the publication of Ability Testing: Uses,
Consequences and Controversies (Wigdor and Garner,1982)

Use of standardized ability tests in schools, in admission to

higher education, and in employment testings

In general, the findings of these groups have substantiated

and lent additional credence to well-established and often
reiterated conclusions about the both the contributions and
potential misuses of ability tests.
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Should just anyone be allowed

to purchase and use
psychological test materials?

If not, then who would be

permitted to use psychological
tests?
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User Qualifications and Professional

Competence
As early as 1950, the APA Committee on Ethical ,
Standards for Psychology published a report
called Ethical Standards for the Distribution of
Psychological Tests and Diagnostic Aids

The Ethic Code principle on competence states

that psychologist “ provide only those services
and use only those techniques for which they are
qualified by education, training, or experience”.
(APA, 1992, p.1599) .
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Test User
Is defined as anyone who participates in the
purchase, administration, interpretation of
a psychological test; or anyone who uses the
result of a psychological test.

*Users should ensure that they have the

necessary training and experience to
purchase and use of psychological tests.
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Who is qualified as a Test User?

Psychologist – an individual who has made
specialized study of science of Psychology
• Psychometrician – a professional in testing and
assessment who typically holds a doctoral degree in
psychology or education and specializes in areas such
as individual differences, quantitative psychology or
theory of assessment
• Psychometrist – a professional in testing and
assessment who typically holds a master’s degree in
psychology or education and is qualified to
administer specific tests
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Test Publishers

These corporations have ethical and professional

standards that they must follow. Publishers can
sell psychological test only to qualified users (at a
minimum advance coursework in Psychology).

*The major responsibility for the proper use of

tests ultimately resides in the individual user or
institution concerned.
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Tests – are standardized procedures for

measuring a sample or samples of behavior.

Three Levels of Tests

• Level A – have minimum requirements. Test in this
level can be administered, scored, and interpreted by
non-psychologist
• Level B – have more stringent requirements. To
purchase these tests you’ll need advance coursework
(at least Bachelors Degree and Units in M.A.) in areas
such as statistics, individual differences and etc.
• Level C – have very stringent requirements. To
purchase the test, you’ll need an advance degree MA
and Ph.D in Psychology and other allied Profession
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Test Taker

Is person who responds to test

questions or whose behavior is
being measured.

*Any test taker has his/her own

rights.
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The right of INFORMED CONSENT

Test takers have the right to know why they are being
evaluated, how the test data will be used , and what
information will be released to whom. With full
knowledge of such information, test takers give their
informed consent to be tested.

*Example: Mentally retarded individual who is 2 or 3

years old, “I’m going to ask you to try to do some things
so that I can see what you know how to do and what
things you could use some more help with”
(APA, 1985)
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The right to PRIVACY

Is defined as the right to decide for oneself
how much one will share with other’s
thoughts, feelings and facts about one’s
personal life;

This right is further characterized as

“essential to insure freedom and self-
determination”
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The right to CONFIDENTIALITY

Concerns matters of communication outside

It is our duty (test users) to safeguard any information divulged by our

clients, regardless of the medium where it was stored. (PAP, Code of
Ethics)

It is also our duty to make sure that this information is secured and is not
placed in areas, spaces or computers easily accessible to other unqualified
person. (PAP, Code of Ethics)

*Who shall have access to the test results??

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The right to be informed of test findings

Psychologist begun to give more thought to the
communication of test results in a form that will be
meaningful and useful to the recipient. Certainly, the
information should not be transmitted routinely, but
should provide appropriate interpretative
explanations.

Among the possible recipients of test results, besides

the test takers themselves, are parents of minors,
teachers and etc.
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Interpretation and Use of Test Scores

By far the most important considerations in

testing pertain to the interpretation of test scores.

Tests are designed to show what an individual can

do at a given point in time.

*test scores should facilitate effective planning for

the optimal development of the individual.
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Objectivity of Tests
When social stereotypes and
prejudice may distort
interpersonal evaluations,
tests provide a safeguard
against favoritism and
arbitrary and capricious
decisions.
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Thank You
For Listening!
