Page 278 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Guidance and counseling Dinesh Kumar, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 26: Testing and Non-Testing Techniques:

Psychological Tests

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction

26.1 Psychological Tests
26.2 Client Appraisal Techniques
26.3 Summary
26.4 Keywords
26.5 Review Questions
26.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit students will be able to:
• Discuss psychological tests and non-testing techniques
• Explain intelligence and aptitude tests

Introduction

A psychological test is a tool developed for a specific purpose to be used with a defined population.
Great care is taken in establishing its psychometric properties.
Thus, This claim is hotly contested and we shall return to it at a later stage. Psychological tests are
based on the theory that they are comparable to objective observations and that they sample the
defined psychological ‘trait-universe’ from a wide range of respondent behaviour. Psychological
tests can also be used in providing self-knowledge. Most self-administering tests fall under this
category. Such tests purport to provide an unbiased objective understanding of oneself.
The second use of psychological tests is for screening. This is a very useful device and helps in
conserving time and energy. The obvious purpose of such tests is to help determine whether
individuals have any problem and, therefore, require assistance. Naturally such an aid lightens the
burden of the counsellors to a great deal in so far as they identify those clients who require assistance.
Screening tests are usually not very elaborate. They are usually meant to provide tentative information
and it is undesirable for the counsellor to have complete faith on such interim findings. Often
individuals are not aware of their own situation (problems). A screening device, therefore, is of very
great value. Psychological tests are also used as aids in the prediction of the future success of the
tests. In such situations usually more than one test is combined on the basis of certain objective
criteria. Most-aptitude tests are used as predictor tests.
The most important clinical use of psychological tests is in the field of psychodiagnosis. Several
diagnostic personality tests like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and ability
tests like the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) are extensively used. In addition, projective
tests are used with the specific intention of diagnosis.
An important use of the psychological tests is to assist the counsellor in the process of therapy. This
corresponds to the practice of obtaining information from clinical tests in the medical situation to
assess the progress of therapy. Psychological tests are also used in evaluating counseling outcomes.

272 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY