Psychological tests are an increasingly popular form of measurement instruments. To be effective, they must be valid and reliable so as to accurately capture what their purpose requires them to measure.
All assessments must be standardized so that results of one person can be directly compared with those of others and free from bias in terms of scoring and administration.
What is a Psychological Test?
Psychologists utilize various tools during psychological assessments to understand the root cause of your symptoms, from objective tests that require yes/no or true/false responses, such as Yes/No and True/False questions, to projective tests that assess responses to ambiguous stimuli like Rorschach tests.
These tests give your psychologist information about you relative to a norm group, which may aid them in reaching a diagnosis. Unfortunately, many people incorrectly believe they can fail a psychological test; this is simply not true! Psychological assessments provide invaluable insight into both strengths and weaknesses so you can utilize your strengths as strategies against any challenges identified during testing.
An exhaustive psychological assessment typically comprises of several tests: IQ tests, personality assessments (such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), behavioral assessments and neuropsychological battery. You can find numerous commercial and unpublished psychology tests online as well as guides for administering and interpreting particular measures.
What is a Neuropsychological Battery?
Neuropsychological batteries are designed to assess the function of one’s brain. Often conducted when there is suspicion of brain injury or illness.
The best test batteries are those designed with careful thought. They should provide reliable test retest reliability while testing multiple cognitive functions without excessive redundancies. Furthermore, they must also be easy to administer across a wide spectrum of disabilities.
As an example, it is vital that tests can be interpreted without requiring high levels of literacy, nor contain unclear instructions (especially for those who may not read). They must also allow for different modes of instruction-giving such as visual and auditory methods.
Scientific validation of testing procedures is also key when assessing neuropsychiatric conditions, as this will allow them to accurately discern between conditions that could indicate brain trauma or illness and those that don’t fit this bill.
What to Expect During Your Testing Session
Psychological testing can be an intimidating experience for anyone. At Bowman Medical Group, our aim is to make your experience as stress-free as possible.
As soon as you arrive for your testing session, a psychologist will ask a series of questions and assign tasks for completion. Psychologists may also inquire into your educational history, work experience and any mental health conditions or illnesses you have suffered from in the past.
Psychologists will often ask you a series of questions designed to assess your personality, thinking and behavioral habits, in order to create an individualized psychological test battery tailored specifically for you. Unlike most multiple-choice tests, psychological exams don’t have right or wrong answers so there’s no need to prepare beforehand; indeed experts believe practicing may actually give distorted results!
Do I Need to Prepare for My Testing Session?
Psychological testing entails far more than simply sitting in a room for hours with a psychologist; psychologists spend considerable time behind-the-scenes scoring and interpreting tests, integrating clinical data sources, formulating cases for evaluation, diagnosing conditions, treating them accordingly and writing reports.
As opposed to school exams, these tests don’t require extensive studying – instead they simply need an open mind and willingness to answer all questions truthfully and thoroughly.
Psychological and neuropsychological testing should never be graded on a pass/fail basis or on a curve; rather, their purpose is to help psychologists identify how best they can assist you. Therefore, being honest and following instructions closely are paramount components of being an excellent test taker. Furthermore, never hesitate to ask your therapist or psychiatrist any queries that arise during testing.