Psychological Testing

Psychological Testing

Testing is utilized to provide identity and meaning to unknown territories of individual thoughts and behaviors. Testing is an assessment of individual's unique human imprint in an basic premise that allows the tester to gain a clearer perspective upon the defining characteristics of the individual being tested. Tests are utilized in most organizational settings, as well as research. Reliability and validity are the most essential aspects of any test, as these to essential components provide the strength and, credibility.

Defining "Test"

Hogan (2007), provides that the word test originates from a French word. The word test, was first recorded in 1368 by Chaucer, test was initially a type of cup that was utilized for melting gold or silver (Hogan, 2007). To most individuals, test is not a melting cup, it is a process that is utilized to determine the extent of one's knowledge, personality, or aptitude. According to Hogan (2007) the true definition or meaning to the word test is "An evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee's behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored using a standardized process" (Pg. 38). In researching this term further for more simplistic definition, Hogan (2007), presents that tests are simply a systematic, standardized quantification procedure or device that presents information about an individual's behavior, their cognitive processes and ultimately it measures a sample of behavior or knowledge (Hogan, 2007, Pg. 38).

Major Categories of Tests

There are five major categories to psychological testing: mental abilities, achievements, personality, interests and attitudes, and neuropsychological tests (Hogan, 2007). The mental abilities category consists of memory, visualization, and creative thinking (Hogan, 2007). Achievements tests are a means to ascertain one's personal level of knowledge or skill on a particular subject or domain (Hogan, 2007). Personality tests are simply a means to ascertain information about the individual personality. Interest and attitude tests may include individual career interests; this test is typically utilized by the school systems. The neuropsychological tests are designed to provide information about an individual's brain function as well as their central nervous system (Hogan, 2007). When assessing ones brain function employed methods include "memory testing for verbal and figural material, psychomotor coordination and abstract thinking" (Hogan, 2007, Pg.8)

Primary Uses and Users

There are diverse utilizers of tests, some are: clinical,