Psychological Testing And Evaluation

The terms psychological test, evaluation, and assessment are often used interchangeably. While all serve the same purpose, psychological tests and evaluations aren't technically the same thing:

• Psychological tests are often formal assessments that offer standardized controls that provide unbiased results. For example, they may be academic tests that rank an individual's ability compared to others of similar age or development.
• Psychological evaluations are more qualitative in nature and aim to provide psychologists with insight into an individual's experience and the duration or severity of their symptoms. Clinical interviews and self-assessment surveys are examples of psychological evaluation. 

A comprehensive psychological assessment often includes a combination of testing and evaluations. From the results, psychologists can determine an overall picture of an individual's psyche, intellectual development, personality structure, and learning style. Once the results are reviewed, an accurate diagnosis can be made by integrating objective and subjective data.

Psychological tests and evaluations depend on why the patient was referred for testing and their circumstances. For example, a mental health professional performing a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation may use a different approach than a psychologist evaluating an individual seeking treatment on their own. 

Although it does often vary between cases, the process that makes up a psychological assessment may include the following:

• A clinical interview with a mental health professional.
• The professional chooses a series of tests best suited to the individual's needs or reasons for the assessment.
• Tests are administered and scored, and the results are interpreted.
• The professional may integrate information from the test results with any behavioral evaluations and interviews.
• The professional writes an assessment report based on the comprehensive findings.
• Feedback is given to the patient or whoever requested the assessment.

Psychological tests can be objective, answering questions with unambiguous answers such as true/false or yes/no. They can also be projective tests that evaluate responses to more qualifiable questions that may require more in-depth answers. 

Regardless of their form, psychological assessments must be:

• Valid: How accurately the scores measure what they're intended to measure
• Reliable: How precise and consistent the test results are over time

An example of how different types of psychological testing and assessment work arises when a person wants to be screened for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A psychological evaluation for ADHD may consist of a self-report test, an interview, and, in some cases, a brain scan. 

To better understand the frequency and severity of potential ADHD symptoms, the individual might be asked to complete a self-report test. There are several screening evaluations for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, for example, is an assessment that asks 18 questions about ADHD symptoms. Questions include “When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?” and “How often do you feel restless or fidgety?” 

During the diagnostic interview, the individual may be asked questions about their lifestyle, existing mental health challenges, and medical history. They might also be asked to further describe their symptoms. Interview questions specific to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder could include “At what age did you first notice your symptoms?” or “Does anything seem to make your symptoms better?” 

The provider may then go through the process of differential diagnosis, ruling out disorders that have symptoms similar to those of ADHD. To do this, they will typically compare the individual’s symptoms with the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and other conditions, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Once all psychological and medical evaluations are complete, the healthcare professional can determine whether an individual should be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 

If an individual is referred by a medical doctor, social worker, or other outside entity, the assessment may occur in a hospital, mental health facility, school, or individual office. Evaluations can take several hours and require multiple visits to complete. During this process, the patient may take tests, including checklists, questionnaires, and ability tests. Testing can be administered in written or online form but usually includes follow-up face-to-face interviews.

Sometimes, clinicians may request a physical exam to rule out medical conditions or side effects of prescribed medications whose symptoms may mimic a mental health disorder. 

Psychological testing is not designed to "pass" or "fail" a participant. Attempting to prepare ahead is generally not recommended and, in some cases, may result in an inaccurate evaluation. It’s best to complete a psychological assessment with honesty and mindfulness to provide accurate, helpful information.  

In a clinical setting, psychologists use testing when direct observation or interviews don't yield enough information for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Psychological testing is used in many other scenarios as well:

• Child psychologists may use different tests and evaluations to determine if a child may have a mental health condition. For example, social, behavioral, or academic challenges may be symptoms of anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, spectrum disorders such as autism, and more. 
• Organizational psychologists can use pre-employment tests, personality assessment tests, and cognitive ability tests to help a business organization best approach planning and hiring.
• A vocational evaluator, case manager, or rehabilitation counselor may administer vocational achievement tests to help individuals enter the workforce and make informed decisions about their career paths.
• A medical doctor or psychiatrist may conduct neuropsychological evaluations to identify potential brain-related concerns presenting psychological symptoms such as injury, neurological disorders, or cognitive decline.
• Personality tests can be used to explore an individual's enduring traits, behaviors, and tendencies. These may provide insight into how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves.
• Court-appointed psychiatrists or mental health advocates may use different tests to determine if an individual is fit to stand trial or influence sentencing.
• Researchers use psychological testing in studies to test hypotheses and find patterns of data that may help psychologists understand the etiology of certain disorders, establish diagnostic criteria, and develop effective treatments for mental illnesses.

While there are separate types of psychological tests and evaluations, many of them overlap in purpose. For example, aptitude tests may be used in an organizational capacity, as well as a psychiatric evaluation. 

Common types of psychological tests and evaluations include:

Personality tests

Personality tests measure various aspects of an individual's personality, behavior, thoughts, and feelings. They’re used as tools in many different areas, from career guidance to research and study to relationship counseling. 

Projective tests 

Projective tests are designed to reveal an individual's unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires by presenting them with ambiguous stimuli and asking them to respond. These tests are based on the idea that when faced with vague or open-ended stimuli, individuals may project their thoughts and emotions onto the stimulus, providing insights into their underlying psychological processes. 

Achievement tests

Achievement tests evaluate how well an individual has mastered a particular body of knowledge or set of skills. They're commonly used in educational settings to assess students' understanding of academic subjects and to measure their progress over time. These tests provide valuable information about a person's level of competence in a particular domain and can help educators tailor their teaching methods to the needs of individual students.

Aptitude test

These tests determine a person's potential to acquire specific skills or perform certain tasks. Unlike achievement tests, which assess what an individual has already learned or mastered, aptitude tests focus on an individual's natural abilities, talents, and potential for future learning and performance. These types of tests are often used in organizations to predict how well a person might perform in a particular area or occupation. 

Attitude tests

An attitude test in psychology measures an individual's attitudes, opinions, beliefs, or feelings toward a particular object, concept, group, or situation. These tests capture the degree and direction of an individual's positive or negative feelings or thoughts about a specific topic.

Attitude tests are often used in research, social psychology, marketing, and various applied settings to understand and analyze people's preferences, biases, and reactions. They can provide valuable insights into how individuals perceive and respond to different stimuli, ideas, and situations.

Emotional intelligence tests

These assessments evaluate an individual's ability to recognize, understand, manage, and use their own emotions and those of others effectively. Emotional intelligence encompasses a range of inter- and intrapersonal skills that contribute to one's ability to navigate social situations, communicate, manage stress, and build healthy relationships. Like personality tests, they may be used in a broad range of contexts. 

Intelligence tests

Intelligence assessments determine an individual's cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, reasoning abilities, and overall intellectual functioning. These tests may estimate a person's intelligence, often understood as the capacity to learn, adapt to new situations, think critically, and solve complex problems.

Intelligence tests are used in various fields, including education, psychology, clinical assessment, and research. They can help provide insights into a person's cognitive strengths and weaknesses, guide educational placements, identify potential learning disabilities, and inform clinical diagnoses.

Neuropsychological tests

These tests evaluate a person's cognitive functions, behaviors, and abilities concerning brain functioning. They’re often used to assess how various brain areas work and to identify any cognitive or behavioral challenges associated with brain injuries, diseases, or developmental disorders. Neuropsychological assessments provide valuable information about an individual's cognitive strengths and weaknesses, which can help guide diagnosis, treatment planning, and rehabilitation strategies.