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Psychological testing is one of the oldest forms of testing that are carried out by psychologists worldwide. Intelligence testing is one of the best ways of measuring intelligence. It is more accurate and even measures the ability of a student or a person to succeed in school work. These tests are greatly used in the classification of students, predicting of success in schooling and even assigning individuals in training programs. There have been developed special tests that are able to predict the success of people in different occupations. The tests will also determine whether the individuals have the required knowledge in the specialties they engage themselves in, within their occupations.
There are also psychological tests that have been constructed to help in measuring certain aspects of personality, attitudes and interests. Moreover, there are tests that have been developed to measure various human traits.
However, there are some problems that are constantly being encountered in the test construction. The major problem revolves around the development of criterion. This is the standard to which the test relates. Taking an example of an intelligence test, the criterion to be considered is there success in school. However, the problem comes about in cultural biasness. This means that the test in most cases reflects the background of the child alongside their learning ability.
In vocational interest tests it has been found that the standard has been greatly consistent in particular occupations. Consequently, in personality tests, there has not been a general agreement reached by the psychologists concerning the standards to be used. The ones that have been proposed have been found to only be indirectly related to personality aspects being measured.
There are many sophisticated statistical models that have been developed for the testing. Consequently, there is a detailed technology which underlies the most successful testing. Psychologists however are divided between devising testing devices that are to be used for special purposes and devising measurements. The major requirement is an agreement on what exactly is to be measured.
The various types of tests
Achievement test - It assesses the performance in academics. This is in relation to the fact that achievement is pegged to previous learning. This is used in the prediction of future academic success. When the test is conducted or administered in a school setting, it will include vocabulary measures, reading comprehension and language tests, arithmetic computation, social studies, science and problem solving. In determining individual achievement, it is important to compare the results obtained with the average scores derived from large sample representation. The scores are expressed in grade level equivalent.
Aptitude test - This is designed to measure success in an area an individual was not trained on. The test is mostly used by government agencies, businesses and schools in assigning specific positions to individuals. The vocational guidance and counseling also involves this kind of test in helping clarify career goals of a person. The success chance is demonstrated when the scores of the test are similar to that of persons working in that field. The test can cover a wide range of skills from different occupations. There is a general test battery which measures general reasoning and includes ability of a person to form perceptions, motor coordination, clerical perception, manual and finger dexterity. Consequently, other tests administered may be focusing on a particular area like modern languages, engineering and arts.
Intelligence test - This test measures a person’s global capacity to cope with the environment. The scores are referred to as intelligence quotients (IQ). There are various intelligence tests. The tests include an infant intelligence test which requires no language use and is designed for administration in a group. The Stanford –Binet which involves verbal abilities and the Wechsler scale which also consists of verbal performance scales. The IQ expresses a person’s position in comparison to a group representation of similar age. The average IQ is 100. However, averages of the people who take the test score between 90 and 110. The scores vary depending on the conditions of testing.
Interest inventories - This is where personal preferences are indicated in a questionnaire. The test indicates whether the person is satisfied with the employment area, education. It is used in guidance and counseling. The test is not used to predict success. It only offers a framework that a person can use to narrow their career possibilities.
There is also the objective personality test measuring emotional and social adjustment used in the identification of the needs for psychological counseling. The items describe behaviors, attitudes and feelings.
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