Page 279 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Unit 26: Testing and Non-Testing Techniques: Psychological Tests

While other evaluative criteria can also be used, the psychological evaluation perhaps can best be Notes
done by employing standard psychological tests.

A psychological test is for all practical purposes considered as an objective test providing
dependable information.1

26.1 Psychological Tests

Psychological tests are designed to assess the characteristics of people such as their abilities, attitudes,
motivations, interests, needs and values and so on. Psychological test can be defined as a sample of
an individual’s, behaviour, obtaining under standard conditions and scored according to a fixed set
of rules that provide a numeric score.
In a standardized test, individual scores are compared with a norm or standard arrived at on the
basis of performance of sample of individuals of the same age or grade level from around the
country who took the same test when it was first developed. Good standardized tests are the result
of years of research. Tests may take many forms. Usually, they comprise of a series of items/
questions with well-defined correct answers such as in case of tests of intelligence or achievement,
while others such as personality inventories, do not have right or wrong answers, but are designed
to assess person’s pre-dispositions, tendencies and preferences.
Tests can be used to compare the same individual on two or more traits and also compare two or
more individuals on the same trait. Such an assessment is usually quantitative. Although most of
the psychological tests provide relatively objective and quantifiable scores such as tests of intelligence
abilities/aptitudes.
A standard test has a manual which provides complete information of how the test was developed,
evidence of its consistency, accuracy and objectivity. It also consists of detailed instructions for
administering, scoring, interpreting the test, its uses and possible misuses. The test manual thus,
provides you the requisite information to allow you to make an informed judgement as to whether
the test is suitable for your use. Besides, the requirement to select the appropriate psychological test,
a counselor needs to develop various skills in test administration, scoring, interpretation and
communicating results to clients.
The following section will describe some type of tests and the purpose for which they are used.
Psychological tests are classified into different types depending on their content and the way they
are administered. Tests vary in their content depending on the aspect of behaviour that is assessed,
for example, some tests are designed to assess abilities, othersassess motivation, personality
characteristics etc. Psychological tests are also classified into individual and group tests, verbal tests
and non-verbal tests and performance tests. Let us discuss one by one by one testing techniques.

26.1.1 Intelligence Tests
Intelligence has been one of the most popular psychological terms used in identifying individual
differences. It has helped to explain that people differ from each other in their ability to understand
complex ideas or to learn from experience. Different theorists have tried to explain intelligence in
different ways following different approaches. Theories by Binet, Weschler Spearman and Thustone
are based on the psychometric approach where intelligence is considered as an aggregate of abilities.
It is expressed in terms of a single index of abilities. Howard Gardener’s theory of multiple
intelligences puts forth that intelligence is not a single entity and there exists multiple intelligences,
each distinct from others. According to him, there are nine distinct intelligences that are relatively
independent of each other. These different types of intelligences interact and work together to
provide a solution of a problem. The nine types of intelligences proposed by Gardener are briefly
discussed below.

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