Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments within the counseling field.
Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments within the counseling field.
PCN-523 Topic 1: Short Answer Questions
Directions: Provide short answers of 150-200 words each for the following questions/statements. Do not exceed 250 words for your response. Use the textbook and any other scholarly resources to support your responses. Include at least three to four scholarly journal articles beyond the textbook and course readings.
1. Explain the difference between psychological tests and psychological assessments.
2. Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments within the counseling field.
3. How have tests had a historically positive impact? How have tests had a historically negative impact?
4. Briefly describe a historical overview of significant events which occurred during the development of appraisals within the counseling field. Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments
References:
The concept of personality assessment and test classification is shifting:
Meyer and Kurtz (2006)
Consider Meyer and Kurtz’s (2006) discussion of personality test descriptors.
Also read the following articles:
Krishnamurthy, R., VandeCreek, L., Kaslow, N. J., Tazeau, Y. N., Miville, M. L., Kerns, R., …. (2004) Achieving competency in psychological assessment: Directions for education and training. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(7), 725-739.
American Psychological Association (2003). Guidelines on multicultural education, training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists. American Psychologist, 58, 377-402.
Discuss the following:
- The historical use of the terms objective and projective to classify a personality test, and the problems with such classification.
- The suggestions made by the authors to refer to specific tests.
- Utilizing the articles from APA (2003) and Krishnamurthy et. Al. (2004), discuss at least three important areas of competency for the clinician involved in assessments; a minimum of one of these three should address a multicultural competency.
Select a personality test and discuss what type of data it provides, and how you might use this particular test to assess a client. In your case discussion address the following: Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments
- Referral question for personality assessment
- Demographic information for your potential client, including ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and level of education
- Background data regarding the client’s current level of functioning and presenting problem(s)
- In your discussion of the assessment process, including administration and interpretation, consider professional competencies required to administer and interpret this assessment, consider also issues related to multicultural competencies. (7 pages)
Bornstein, R. F. (2011). Toward a process focused model of test score validity: Improving psychological assessment in science and practice. Psychological Assessment, 23 (2), 532-544.
Then consider a construct (psychological variable) of interest in your specialty area, and a test (you can use the Buros website to select one) designed to assess that specific construct. . Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments
- Compare and contrast the PF and traditional models of validity.
- Describe why Bornstein maintains that it is important to use the PF model of validity.
- Using the 4 steps outlined by Bornstein how would you assess validity for your chosen construct and selected test to assess that construct?
In this assignment you will choose three general topics of interest to you related to psychological assessment from the list below.
Infants and preschool-aged children
Children ages 5 through 12 years
- Children with neurodevelopmental disorders
- Neuropsychological assessment of adolescents
- Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders
- Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Intellectual assessment of adults
- Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
- Individuals with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorders
- Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder
- Individuals with depressive disorders
- Individuals with neurocognitive disorders
- Individuals with hearing impairments
- Individuals with visual impairments
- Gifted individuals
- Individuals who have served in the military
Research five peer-reviewed articles in the Ashford University Library that were published within the last 15 years, including a minimum of one article for each of your three chosen topics. In your paper, begin with an introduction that describes the role of assessment in diagnosis and treatment. Using your researched articles, compare at least two psychological or educational tests and/or assessment procedures for each of the topics chosen. Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments
Analyze and describe the psychometric methodologies employed in the development and/or validation of the tests and/or assessment procedures associated with each of the three topics. Debate any relevant approaches to assessment of the constructs being evaluated by any tests and assessments you described. Include an analysis of any challenges related to assessing individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds for each of the three topics. Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments
Conclude by evaluating the ethical and professional issues that influence the interpretation of testing and assessment data. You may cite from your textbook to assist you in the development of your introduction and the conclusion of your paper; however, the textbook cannot count as one of the five required peer-reviewed articles.
Note: It is common for there to be a delay between the time a test publisher updates a test and the time the textbook and other authors can update their information about the new version of the test. Be sure to do online research to make sure you are recommending the most current version of the test. If there is a newer version than the version discussed in the textbook or other readings, recommend the newest version. Explain the significance of utilizing both psychological tests and assessments