What is Psychological Test
A psychological test is a methodical and standardized method to check different features of a person's emotional, behavioral, or cognitive performance. Experts like psychologists, therapists, and scientists utilize these assessments to acquire experiences into a person's psychological state, IQ (intelligence quotient), character attributes, and more.
Psychological tests are administered via various formats, including multiple-choice questions, performance tasks, and self-report measures, often conducted in controlled environments to ensure accuracy and reliability.
The findings support the diagnosis of diseases, treatment choices, and specialists' comprehension of an individual's psychological profile.
Ethical principles emphasize the significance of accurate and fair assessments while guaranteeing confidentiality and informed consent throughout testing.
History of Psychological Testing
The field of psychological testing emerged in response to the growing concern over the treatment of people with mental disabilities in the 19th century, who were subjected to abuse, mocking, and even torture. An objective classification system between the frustrated and the feebleminded was required for admission to the numerous institutions for the mentally impaired that were established throughout Europe and the United States.
An intellectual deficiency distinguished the feebleminded from birth or early infancy. In contrast, the insane were characterized by emotional abnormalities that may or may not be followed by intellectual degeneration from an initial average level. The first reference to this differentiation was most likely made in a two-volume work written in 1838 by the French physician Esquire, who wrote about feeblemindedness in more than 100 pages. Using his subject's language, Esquire differentiated between two imbecility grades and three idiocy grades.
Simultaneously, Seguin, another French physician, made significant contributions to training the mentally impaired. He disagreed with the idea that mental illness was incurable. Nonetheless, rather than measuring individual variations, the majority of experimental psychologists at the time were more concerned with developing a generalized account of human behavior.
The testing movement got off to a great start owing in large part to the British biologist Sir Francis Galton. He opened an anthropometric laboratory in 1882 at the South Kensington Museum in London, where, for a nominal price, he assessed a variety of people's physical characteristics, including muscular strength, response time, and other basic sensor motor functions.
He created specific accessible examinations, including the "Gabon bar" and the "Gabon whistle," to be used alongside these. According to Gabon, sensor motor discrimination tests could be used to determine a person's intelligence. In addition, Galton invented the rating scale, questionnaire, and "free association" techniques, which have been used for various applications ever since. Additionally, he created statistical techniques for data analysis on individual differences.
Popular Types of Psychological Tests
Check out the major types of psychological tests used to measure the different aspects of the human brain.
Cognitive Tests
The cognitive test was introduced by Grace M. Fernald and William Healy in 1911. Like IQ tests, psychology tests measure a person's capacity for thought, reasoning, and general intellectual functioning. These assessments gauge the individual's intelligence level and evaluate their capacity to adapt to different environments. The most commonly utilized tests include:
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Personality Tests
The personality test was introduced by Katharine Briggs in 1937. The purpose of these tests is to determine an individual's personality type and traits. There are many types of attitude tests commonly used in clinical settings. The following are examples of some widely known tests.
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory or MMPI
- Thematic Apperception Test
- Rorschach or Inkblot Test
Attitude Tests
First introduced by Thurstone and Chave in 1929, this type of test examines an individual's attitude toward the environment, other individuals, or specific places. Some frequently used tests include:
- Thurstone Scale
- Likert Scale
Achievement Tests
Achievement tests, introduced in 1920 by Raymond Franzen, are another psychological assessment category that evaluates your proficiency in understanding a particular subject, such as mathematics. Examples of these tests include:
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
- Peabody Individual Achievement Test
Neuropsychological Tests
Neuropsychological assessment was pioneered by Shepherd Ivory Franz, who advocated a clinical approach, and Ward Halstead, who promoted a strongly psychometric approach. Neuropsychological tests are typically administered following instances of traumatic stress or injury to assess the cognitive functioning of the brain. Common examples of these tests include:
- Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
- Benton Visual Retention Test
Aptitude Tests
In the early part of the 19th century, Sir Francis Galton created the first aptitude test. Aptitude tests gauge an individual's potential for performance in various areas. Examples of these tests include:
- Bloomberg Aptitude Test
- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
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