Free Difference Between Psychological Testing And Psychological Assessment Essay Example

Psychology Diagnostic Assessment

Psychology Diagnostic Assessment

Psychological testing is a standardized measure and objective of any sample of behavior while Psychological assessment is a complex process used in solving problems and answering some questions. Psychological tests are mostly used as ways of collecting relevant data (Leighton & Gierl, 2007). Psychological assessment is found to be more comprehensive than Psychological testing. That is because psychological testing such as intelligence tests or personality tests occur mostly as part of the process of psychological assessment. Psychological assessment that is done professionally will include demographic information, personal history, interview, medical information and observation by others.
Measuring the differences between people using Psychological tests allows one to place them easily along a numerical scale in order to assess the different results. On the other hand, Psychological assessment results are re-checked by applying several questions that tackle how a person approached and answered the test items (Leighton & Gierl, 2007). The more complex and difficult the major questions become the less adequate the single test is to come up with the correct answers. The assessment test contains very important steps that include the analysis and interpretation of data. The final process depends on the assessor’s psychological competence and also how much the person has learned about basic and advanced psychology.
The steps followed in Psychological assessment require the willingness to turn every stone that is on the road and avoid rushing into a premature definitive judgment. Psychological tests are, typically though not necessarily, a sequence of tasks or problems that require a respondent to find solutions. Also of note is that people who are deemed equal according to the measured constructs also have equal probabilities of answering the questions and test items correctly (Kooij, 2013). Psychological assessment and Psychological testing are similar. However, the assessment usually involves a more detailed analysis of an individual.

How does psychological testing differ from guesses and prejudices?

Psychological testing is different from guesses, prejudice, and many other biases because the testing requires acts of completing and solving a series of tasks and problems by the respondent. Tests in Psychological testing must be valid and reliable, which is not the case for guesses and prejudice. One major difference between Psychological testing and prejudice is that Psychological testing is carried out after comprehensive research and development, unlike prejudice (Groth-Marnat, 2003). In Psychological testing, a statistical representation score usually compares a person’s results from the test with the statistical representation of the entire population. That statistical representation is not found in prejudice and guesses. Psychological testing commonly requires the knowledge of the test being carried out. That is not the case in instances of guesses and prejudice. In guesses and prejudice, much knowledge of the study or test is not required since one is supposed to make a guess, which is mostly simple.
Psychological tests are not magic rather they help to assess and evaluate information that one gives to an examiner (Silverstein, 1999). Psychological tests done in hospitals are very important. They allow a patient to easily access his/her results through the psychologist carrying out the test; unlike in prejudice and guesses where one cannot get the actual results since no test was carried out. It is essential to recognize that while psychological tests are important, the reliability should be the priority in any test done. Without reliability, there can never be validity. For instance, a thermometer can be a valid way to measure temperature. However, if the electronic thermometer being used has a battery problem, the result it gives will be incorrect.

How does psychological testing augment the diagnostic interview process?

Psychological testing can augment the diagnostic interview process in several ways. Psychologists can assess a client’s complaints, analyze the underlying problems and identify the origin of the problems to make decisions for treatment. In diagnostic testing, a classical problem with the validity always comes up when someone uses any test inappropriately, for a purpose that it was not designed.
Psychological tests are not always correct, despite most of the tests having been developed through sound scientific principles. The results of a psychological test are valid and reliable. That is because all that a psychologist needs is a person with intuitive impressions. Psychological testing is not a single type of step but requires various steps and different aspects of an individual’s psychological makeup (Groth-Marnat, 2003). In diagnostic interview process, clinical interview, which is a major step in Psychological testing is important as it gives an opportunity for psychologists to gather useful background data as well as data on a person’s family. A clinical interview is most of the times commonly conducted before a formal psychological test occurs. Psychologists always want to form their impressions clinically when conducting a test, which is best done through a direct interview with the person.
An accurate diagnosis always comes from a patient who willingly collaborates (Fernandez-Balllesteros, 2003). There exist two opposing forms of risk in the first moments of carrying out the interview. They include jumping to the diagnostic conclusion or slowly focusing and missing the rich information that usually pours forth in the first meeting with the patient.

References

Fernandez-Ballesteros, R. (Ed.). (2003). Encyclopedia of Psychological Assessment (vol. 1). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications.
Groth-Marnat, G. (2003). Handbook of Psychological Assessment: Psychological Tests, Personality Assessment (4th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Kooij, J. J. S. (2013). Adult ADHD: Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment (3rd ed.). New York: Springer.
Leighton, J. P., & Gierl, M. J. (Eds.). (2007). Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment for Education: Theory and Applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Silverstein, M. L. (1999). Self-Psychology and Diagnostic Assessment: Identifying Self-Object Functions through Psychology Testing. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Eribaum Associates.