CHAPTER 2:

HISTORICAL,
CULTURAL, AND
LEGAL/ETHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS

PREPARED BY:
PM DR. R ZIRWATUL AIDA R
IBRAHIM
 19TH CENTURY
• Charles Darwin
• Francis Galton-quantify ind differ b/w peo
• Pioneered the use of statistical concept
central to psychological testing
• Pearson developed product-moment
correlation technique
• Sensory abilities
• Cattell coined the term mental test

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 20TH CENTURY
• Measurement of intelligence
• Alfred Binet
• David Wechsler (WAIS)
• Measurement of personality
• Robert S.Woodworth was designed the task of
developing a measure of adjustment & emotional
stability
• Self report test – refers to a process whereby
assesees themselves supply assessment-related
information by responding to questions, keeping
a dialogue or self monitoring thought/beh
• Projective test – Thematic Apperception Test
• Rorschach Inkblot Test

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 CULTURE & ASSESSMENT
• Culture-specific test
• Nonverbal communication does not convey
the same meaning across cultures
• Language is the sample variable that is too
often overlooked.
• Across cultures, decisions regarding
mental health are most influenced by
societal standard

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LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
THE CONCERNS OF THE PROFESSION
Test-user qualifications:
• APA committees on Ethical Standards for
Psychology published a report called
Ethical Standards for the Distribution of
Psychological Tests & Diagnostic Aids
• Defined 3 levels of tests in terms of the
degree to which the test’s use required
knowledge of testing

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 CONT’D
• Level A: tests that can be adequately be
administered
• Level B : tests require some technical
knowledge of test construction
• Level C : tests that require substantial
understanding of testing & supporting
psychological fields
• Professional organizations develop ethical
standard about the sound & ethical
practice in PT

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 CONT’D
Computerized test administration, scoring &
interpretation :
• Computer-assisted psychological
assessment (CAPA)

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 MAJOR ISSUES WITH
REGARD TO CAPA
• Access to test administration,scoring &
interpretation software
• Comparability of pencil-and-paper &
computerized versions of tests
• The value of computerized test
interpretation
• Unprofessional psychological testing
online

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LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
THE RIGHTS OF TEST TAKERS
1) The right of informed consent
• APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists
Code of Conduct (2002) provides that
psychologists:
• Do not use deception unless it is
absolutely necessary
• Do not use deception at all if it will cause
participants emotional distress
• Fully debrief participants

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 CONT’D
2) The right to be informed of test findings
• Inclination of psychological assessors
• Realistic information – ethically and legal
• Recommendations

3) The right to privacy & confidentiality

• Privacy right: “recognizes the freedom of the
individual to pick and choose for himself the
time, circumstances and particularly the
extent to which he wishes to share or
withhold fr others his attitudes, beliefs, beh &
opinions
• Confidentiality: “concerns matters of comm
outside the courtroom”
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 CONT’D
4) The right to the least stigmatizing label
• Use least stigmatizing label with accurate
representation

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 CONT’D
• Malpractise
• Psychologist did not act in a way that any
other person in the profesion would act

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