Psychological Assessment Lecture

Question 1

The gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation that is accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and specially designed apparatuses and measurement procedures

Answer 1

Psychological assessment

Question 2

The process of measuring psychology-related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior

Answer 2

Psychological testing

Question 3

This is a systematic process of gathering and analyzing evidence to understand and improve student learning. It involves collecting data on knowledge, skills, attitudes, beliefs, and practices to inform instructional decisions and ensure that educational goals are being met.

Answer 3

Educational assessment

Question 4

This means examining or evaluating something after it has already happened, looking back at past events or data to understand the past or draw conclusions.

Answer 4

Retrospective assessment

Question 5

This involves evaluating someone’s abilities, knowledge, or skills using electronic means from a distance, typically via the internet or digital communication tools.

Answer 5

Remote assessment

Question 6

This is an approach where the assessor and client work together throughout the entire assessment process, from defining goals to interpreting results.

Answer 6

Collaborative psychological assessment

Question 7

This is a collaborative method of psychological assessment that uses tests and other tools to help clients gain new insights and make positive changes in their lives.

Answer 7

Therapeutic psychological assessment

Question 8

This is a type of assessment that refers to an interactive approach to psychological assessment that usually follows a model of (1) evaluation, (2) intervention of some sort, and (3) evaluation.

Answer 8

Dynamic assessment

Question 9

This pertains to the form, plan, structure, arrangement, and layout of test items as well as to related considerations such as time limits.

Answer 9

Format

Question 10

A code or summary statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, that reflects an evaluation of performance on a test, task, interview, or some other sample of behavior.

Answer 10

Score

Question 11

This is a predetermined score on a test or assessment that is used to categorize individuals into different performance levels or categories.

Answer 11

Cut score (cut-off score)

Question 12

This refers to the extent to which an assessment tool, like a test or questionnaire, is reliable, valid, and standardized, ensuring it measures what it intends to measure and produces consistent results.

Answer 12

Psychometric soundess

Question 13

A method of gathering information through direct communication involving reciprocal exchange

Answer 13

Interview

Question 14

More than one interviewer participating in an assessment

Answer 14

Panel interview (board interview)

Question 15

A therapeutic dialogue that combines person-centered listening skills such as openness and empathy, with the use of cognition-altering techniques designed to positively affect motivation and effect therapeutic change.

Answer 15

Motivational interviewing

Question 16

Work products retained on paper, canvas, film, video, audio, or some other medium.

Answer 16

Portfolio

Question 17

This refers to records, transcripts, and other accounts in written, pictorial, or other form that preserve archival information, official and informal accounts, and other data and items relevant to an assessee.

Answer 17

Case history data

Question 18

This involves systematically watching and recording a person’s behavior to understand how they interact with their environment and identify factors influencing their actions.

Answer 18

Behavioral observation

Question 19

This involves observing subjects in their natural environment to understand their behavior in real-world settings.

Answer 19

Naturalistic observation

Question 20

Acting an improvised or partially improvised part in a simulated situation

Answer 20

Role play

Question 21

Score being done on-site

Answer 21

Local processing

Question 22

Scoring being conducted at some central location

Answer 22

Central processing

Question 23

This is a document that presents numerical results or scores from an assessment, test, or evaluation.

Answer 23

Simple scoring report

Question 24

This provides a detailed breakdown of test results, going beyond simple numerical scores to offer insights into an individual’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for potential growth.

Answer 24

Extended scoring report

Question 25

This provides a nuanced analysis of test results and other data, offering insights into an individual's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Answer 25

Interpretative report

Question 26

This provides expert advice and recommendations based on an evaluation of a client's psychological functioning.

Answer 26

Consultative report

Question 27

This combines multiple data sources – interviews, observations, and tests – to create a comprehensive understanding of a client.

Answer 27

Integrative report

Question 28

A scale of measurement that categorizes data into mutually exclusive groups without any inherent order or ranking.

Answer 28

Nominal

Question 29

A scale of measurement that ranks data in a meaningful order, but the intervals between ranks may not be equal.

Answer 29

Ordinal

Question 30

This is a type of measurement scale that provides the most comprehensive information about a variable. It has the following characteristics: true zero point, equal intervals between values, and the ability to calculate meaningful ratios between values. (e.g., weight)

Answer 30

Ratio

Question 31

This is a measurement scale where the difference between any two points is equal, but there is no true zero point. (e.g., time)

Answer 31

Interval

Question 32

These provide a single value that describes the center or typical value of a dataset.

Answer 32

Measures of central tendency

Question 33

This is calculated by summing all values in a dataset and dividing by the number of values.

Answer 33

Mean

Question 34

This is the middle value in an ordered dataset. For an even number of values, it's the average of the two middle values.

Answer 34

Median

Question 35

This is the value that appears most frequently in a dataset.

Answer 35

Mode

Question 36

This is an indication of how scores in a distribution are scattered or dispersed.

Answer 36

Variability

Question 37

This is equal to the difference between the highest and the lowest scores.

Answer 37

Range

Question 38

This is a measure of variability equal to the difference between Q3 and Q1. Like the median, it is an ordinal statistic.

Answer 38

Interquartile range

Question 39

This is equal to the interquartile range divided by 2.

Answer 39

Semi-interquartile range

Question 40

Measure of variability equal to the square root of the average squared deviations about the mean. More succinctly, it is equal to the square root of the variance.

Answer 40

Standard deviation

Question 41

This indicates that data points in a dataset are widely spread out from the mean (average).

Answer 41

High standard deviation

Question 42

This is equal to the arithmetic mean of the squares of the differences between the scores in a distribution and their mean.

Answer 42

Variance

Question 43

This is when relatively few of the scores fall at the high end of the distribution.

Answer 43

Positive skew

Question 44

This is when relatively few of the scores fall at the low end of the distribution

Answer 44

Negative skew

Question 45

This is the term testing professionals use to refer to the steepness of a distribution in its center.

Answer 45

Kurtosis

Question 46

This is a raw score that has been converted from one scale to another scale, where the latter scale has some arbitrarily set mean and standard deviation.

Answer 46

Standard score

Question 47

This refers to the consistency of a measurement.

Answer 47

Reliability

Question 48

This refers to the difference between a measured value and the true value of a variable. This error can occur due to various factors, including problems with the measurement tool itself (e.g., inadequate instruments, poor calibrations) or human error.

Answer 48

Measurement error

Question 49

This is a source of error in measuring a targeted variable caused by unpredictable fluctuations and inconsistencies of other variables in the measurement process.

Answer 49

Random error

Question 50

This refers to a consistent and predictable error in measurement or observation that skews results in a particular direction, leading to inaccurate conclusions.

Answer 50

Systematic error

Question 51

This assesses the consistency of results when the same measure is administered to the same individuals at different times. It indicates whether the measure is stable over time.

Answer 51

Test-retest reliability

Question 52

This measures the extent to which different raters or observers agree on the same observations or measurements. It's particularly important when subjective judgments are involved.

Answer 52

Inter-rater reliability

Question 53

This examines the consistency between two different versions of the same measure that are designed to assess the same construct. It ensures that the different forms produce similar results.

Answer 53

Parallel or alternate forms reliability

Question 54

This assesses how consistently different items within a single measure or questionnaire measure the same construct. It ensures that all items are aligned and contribute to the overall assessment.

Answer 54

Internal consistency reliability

Question 55

This refers to the extent to which a study accurately measures what it intends to measure.

Answer 55

Validity

Question 56

This type of validity assesses whether the research instrument (e.g., a questionnaire, test) truly measures the abstract concept it is designed to measure.

Answer 56

Construct Validity

Question 57

This checks if different measures of the same construct yield similar results.

Answer 57

Convergent Validity

Question 58

This ensures that the measures for different, unrelated constructs are distinct.

Answer 58

Discriminant Validity

Question 59

This assesses whether the content of a research instrument is relevant and comprehensive in measuring the intended concept or domain. A test designed to measure math skills should include a representative sample of the topics covered in the curriculum.

Answer 59

Content Validity

Question 60

This type of validity examines how well a test or measurement tool predicts or correlates with an external criterion.

Answer 60

Criterion Validity

Question 61

This compares the scores of a new measure with a well-established measure at the same time.

Answer 61

Concurrent Validity

Question 62

This assesses how well a test predicts future performance or behavior.

Answer 62

Predictive Validity

Question 63

This is the simplest form of validity, where the instrument appears to measure what it is intended to measure.

Answer 63

Face Validity

Question 64

This refers to the extent to which the conclusions drawn from a study are accurate and not due to confounding variables.

Answer 64

Internal Validity

Question 65

This addresses the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other populations, settings, or situations.

Answer 65

External Validity

Question 66

This concerns the accuracy of the statistical conclusions drawn from a study, ensuring that the analysis is appropriate and the conclusions are justified.

Answer 66

Statistical Conclusion Validity

Question 67

This is a specific type of external validity that considers whether the research findings are applicable to real-world situations.

Answer 67

Ecological Validity

Question 68

This is a standardized test designed to measure intelligence in adults and older adolescents.

Answer 68

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Question 69

This is a standardized, individually administered intelligence test used to measure cognitive abilities in individuals aged 2 to 85+ years.

Answer 69

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Question 70

This is a self-report inventory that helps mental health professionals assess a person's psychological state and potential personality disorders.

Answer 70

MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2)

Question 71

This is a widely used personality assessment tool that measures an individual's standing on the five major dimensions of personality: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.

Answer 71

NEO PI-R (NEO Personality Inventory-Revised)

Question 72

This is a popular personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into 16 personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I), Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N), Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F), and Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P).

Answer 72

MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)

Question 73

This is a psychological test used to assess visual-motor functioning, developmental disorders, and neurological impairments in children and adults.

Answer 73

BGT (Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test)

Question 74

This is a neuropsychological test designed to measure different memory functions in a person. Anyone ages 16 to 90 is eligible to take this test.

Answer 74

WMS (Wechsler Memory Scale)

Question 75

This is a standardized, individually administered test used to assess academic achievement in areas like reading, mathematics, and writing.

Answer 75

Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT)

Question 76

This is a battery of individually administered, norm-referenced tests used to assess academic achievement in reading, writing, and math for individuals aged 2-90+.

Answer 76

Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ IV ACH)

Question 77

A projective test using inkblots to assess personality and psychological processes.

Answer 77

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Question 78

A projective test where individuals create stories based on ambiguous images.

Answer 78

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Question 79

This test refers to comparing a person's performance to a group's performance.

Answer 79

Norm-referenced tests

Question 80

This test refers to comparing a person's performance to a predetermined standard or set of criteria.

Answer 80

Criterion-referenced tests

Question 81

A measuring device or procedure.

Answer 81

Test

Question 82

Code or summary statement, not necessarily numerical in nature, that reflects an evaluation of a performance on a test, task, interview, or some other sample behavior

Answer 82

Score

Question 83

These are what we call psychological measurements.

Answer 83

Psychometrics

Question 84

The usefulness or practical value that a test or assessment technique has for a particular purpose.

Answer 84

Utility

Question 85

The reconstruction of a deceased individual’s psychological profile on the basis of archival records, artifacts, and interviews previously conducted with the deceased assessee or with people who knew them.

Answer 85

Psychological autopsy

Question 86

These tests are given to help identify children with special needs.

Answer 86

School ability tests

Question 87

The description or conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and opinion.

Answer 87

Diagnosis

Question 88

The tool of assessment used to help narrow down and identify areas of deficit to be targeted for intervention.

Answer 88

Diagnostic test

Question 89

Nonsystematic assessment that leads to the formation of opinion or attitude.

Answer 89

Informal evaluation

Question 90

This is the adaptation of a test, procedure, or situation, or the substitution of one test to another, to make the assessment more suitable for an assessee with exceptional needs.

Answer 90

Accommodation

Question 91

Body of principles or right, proper, or good conduct.

Answer 91

Ethics

Question 92

Where all scores are listed alongside the number of times each score occurred.

Answer 92

Frequency distribution

Question 93

Where test-score intervals (class intervals) replace the actual test scores.

Answer 93

Grouped frequency distribution

Question 94

Two scores that occur with the highest frequency.

Answer 94

Bimodel distribution

Question 95

This is a statistical measure that quantifies the spread or dispersion of scores around the mean (average) within a dataset.

Answer 95

Variance