Psychological Testing
A psychological test is an objective and standardized measure of an individual’s mental and/or behavioral characteristics. It assesses and evaluates information that you and others give to the examiner in an objective manner. In addition, psychological tests offer a formal way to measure traits, feelings, beliefs and abilities that can lead to people’s problems. The cost of the testing and evaluation varies with the referral question as each evaluation is unique to the individual.
What are the different types of psychological testing?
- Achievement and aptitude
- Measures your academic abilities (i.e., mathematics, reading, writing)
- Determines your capacity to master a certain skill or information
- Intelligence (IQ)
- Neuropsychological
- Measures deficits in cognitive functioning such as your ability to think, speak, and perform certain motor tasks
- Vocational
- Determines your vocational interests, skills, and values
- Personality
- Determines your personality style
- Specific clinical (i.e., depression, anxiety)
Why are psychological tests administered?
- It is easier to gain information, especially objectively, from tests than by a clinical interview. In addition, it adds valuable information to the clinical interview.
- The information from tests is more scientifically consistent than the information from a clinical interview.
- It is harder to lie on a test than in a clinical interview.