Introduction - Lecture 1

Question 1

Definition of psychological assessment

Answer 1

• Essential component of psychologist’s practical work
• used purposefully in order to answer concrete questions.
• makes use of different methods (selected according to the question asked)

Question 2

Methods for psychological assessment

Answer 2

• tests
• questionaires
• bahavior observations
• interview
• other sources (documents, reports, etc.)

Question 3

functions of assessment in psychology

Answer 3

1. application and basic research
2. methods and statistics

Question 4

What are some basic principles of “sound” psychological assessment?

Answer 4

1. For assessment to be performed meaningfully, we need a clearly stated and explicit question which can be answered in principle.
2. Psychological assesment has a purpose/ is goal-oriented
3. The assessed constructs and the applied methods should be of schientific origin. This entails a clear empirical demarcation and evaluation.
4. Successful assessment necessitates basic knowledge and skills in scientific methods and statistics.

Question 5

Everyday assessment (key points)

Answer 5

• implicit judgement
• high subjectivity
• unsystematic observations
• low in reflection
• no methodological requirements
• selective (completeness of information)
• susceptible for prejudice and/or bias

Question 6

Professional assessment (key points)

Answer 6

• explicit judgements
• low subjectivity
• systematic observations
• high in reflection
• methodological requirements according to scientific criteria
• attempt at collecting all the information
• goal of fair judgement

Question 7

What is a construct?

Answer 7

• abstractions of empiricial entities
• theoretical interpretations
• not directly observable (latent)

Question 8

Constitutive definition
(meaning of a construct)

Answer 8

Description of the relations with other constructs

Question 9

Operational definition
(meaning of a construct)

Answer 9

Description of ways of operationalizing the construct.

Question 10

Main quality criteria (psychometirc tests)

Answer 10

1. Objectivity
2. Reliability
3. validity
4. Scalability

Question 11

What are secondary quality criteria (psychometric tests)

Answer 11

• norming
• utility
• reasonableness
• fairness
• economy
• comparability
• non-manipulative nature

Question 12

What is the overarching goal of psychological assessment?

Answer 12

1. To reduce uncertainty
2. facilitate better decision making.