Psychological assessment guides are created by psychology professionals to provide the public with accurate and authoritative information appropriate for their current needs. Information available to the public about psychological testing and assessment varies widely depending on the professional creating it, the purpose of the assessment, and the intended audience. When professionals effectively educate the public on the how, what, and why behind assessments and the strengths and limitations of commonly used instruments, potential clients are in a better position to be informed users of assessment products and services. The Assessment Guides developed in this course will be designed to provide the lay public with accurate and culturally relevant information to aid them in making informed decisions about psychological testing. Students will develop their Guides with the goal of educating readers to be informed participants in the assessment process.
There is no required template for the development of the Assessment Guide. Students are encouraged to be creative while maintaining the professional appearance of their work. Students will begin their Guides with a general overview of assessment, reasons for assessment referrals, and the importance of the role of each individual in the process. Within each of the remaining sections, students will describe the types of assessments that their readers may encounter, the purposes of each type of assessment, the different skills and abilities the instruments measure, the most valid and reliable uses of the measures, and limitations of the measures. A brief section will be included to describe the assessment process, the types of professionals who conduct the assessments, and what to expect during the assessment meetings.
Section 1: Introduction and Overview
Students will begin their Guides with a general overview of assessment. students will briefly address the major aspects of the assessment process.
Definition of a Test (e.g., What is a Test?)
Briefly define psychological assessment.
Types of Tests
Identify the major categories of psychological assessment.
Reliability and Validity
Briefly define the concepts of reliability and validity as they apply to psychological assessment.
Role of testing and assessment in the diagnostic process
Briefly explain role of assessment in diagnosis.
Professionals Who Administer Tests
Briefly describe the types of professionals involved in various assessment processes.
Culture and Testing
Briefly describe issues of cultural diversity as it applies to psychological assessment.
Categories of Assessment For each category of assessment, students will include the required content listed in the PSY640 Content for Testing Pamphlets and Information Sheets (Links to an external site.). Be sure to reference the content requirements (Links to an external site.) prior to completing each of the information sheets on the following categories of assessment.
Tests of Intelligence
Tests of Achievement
Tests of Ability
Neuropsychological Testing
Personality Testing
Industrial, Occupational, and Career Assessment
Forensic Assessment
Special Topics (Students will specify which topic they selected for this pamphlet or information sheet. Additional instructions are noted below.)
Special Topics (Student’s Choice)
In addition to the required seven categories of assessment listed above, students will develop information targeted either at a specific population or about a specific issue related to psychological assessment not covered in one of the previous sections. Students may choose from one of the following categories:
Testing Preschool-Aged Children
Testing Elementary School-Aged Children
Testing Adolescents
Testing Geriatric Patients
Testing First Generation Immigrants
Testing in Rural Communities
Testing English Language Learners
Testing Individuals Who Are (Select one: Deaf, Blind, Quadriplegic)
Testing Individuals Who Are Incarcerated
Testing for Competency to Stand Trial
Testing in Child Custody Cases
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