Methods of designing self-report test
rational
factorial
empirical`\
What is Psychological Assessment and its goals
Process that uses both nomothetic and idiographic means to understand subjects and their behavior
Goal for this understanding:
- guide treatment planning
- inform decision-making
- help client understand themselves
Nomothetic vs idiographic (variance)
Nomothetic– that part of variance in a quality that is shared by people
- done by testing
Idiographic– that part of variance that is unique to the individual
“objective test” refers to…
- structured stimulus (a specific statement)
- a limited set of externally provided items (like T/F, likert scale)
- does not rely on scorer’s judgement to classify the response (has pre-existing key)
connotes: unbiased, reliable
The non-objective aspect of objective tests
Objective connotes the notion of unbiased, reliable BUT this ignores possible non-objective aspects of these types of tests:
- test taker/raters willingness to be honest/malingering
- test taker/rater ability to be honest—lack of self knowledge, response styles; Halo effects and Scapegoating effects
- Imperfections in the tests (ambiguity, psychometrics, etc.)
Replaced “objective test” with what?
Self-report test
Differentiate by type of informant:
- Self typically
- but also, parent, spousal, teacher, etc.
Projective tests
Projective tests refer to:
- ambiguous stimulus or activity (E.g., inkblot)
- test-taker generates a response with minimal external guidance (infinite answers)
- in responding the test-taker projects or puts forward elements of their habits/personality
- interpretation requires subjectivity
Is rorschach inkblot method a project test?
Yes, in the classical sense (ambiguity, infinite answers)
BUT scoring involves more stimulus classification and problem-solving styles than classical projection, and scoring strictly limits subjectivity
Two types of projective tests
- Projective tests—rely exclusively on projection (House-Tree-Person, Thematic Apperception Test, Roberts Picture Story, etc.)
- Performance-based personality tests—which have substantial nomothetic aspects
(Rorschach, Wartegg Drawing Completion Test, Adult Attachment Projective)
Examples of classic projective tests
House-Tree-Person
Thematic Apperception Test
Roberts Picture Story
Examples of performance-based personality tests
Rorschach
Wartegg Drawing Completion Test
Adult Attachment projective
Attributes of a good test
clear instructions for administering, scoring and interpreting
efficient use (incremental validity)
accurate (reliable and valid)
Incremental validity
Test is the most efficient way to measure something
Reliable vs valid
reliable: consistent
Valid: measures what it says it measures
Purposes of Personality Assessment?
assessment in general: to guard against bias/human thinking errors (to have structured way to measure the below items)
- To describe current functioning
- To confirm, refute or modify impressions
- To identify therapeutic needs
- To aid in differential diagnosis
- To monitor treatment
- To manage risk
- As an effective short-term therapeutic intervention.
Best defenses against inaccurate conclusions
using valid and reliable measures
multi-method assessment
- using multiple methods of measuring, blend the various strengths and weakness every instrument inevitably has)
collaborative/therapeutic assessment
- work with test taker, look at strengths
What are the main ethical guidelines around assessment?
Do no harm (non-malfeasance)
Do good (beneficence)
Promote autonomy (informed consent)
Be just (be fair)
The three personality problems in living
Emotional
Interpersonal
Thought disorders
What is personality?
“an individual’s unique constellation of psychological traits and states”
–> their unique combination of traits and states
Ex. how do you handle conflict? how are you handling this conflict?
Traits
relatively enduring ways in which one person varies from another
– at least somewhat situation-dependent
– perfect consistency will not be found; no absolute standards
States
Temporary (unlike traits which are enduring)
Meyer & Erdberg theory on personality and personality disorders
Personality is:
- a bio-psycho-social construct
- the relatively stable set of attitudes and behaviors that makes each person unique –
- the product of a complex interaction of nature, nurture, and context
Personality disorders:
- maladaptive extremes of normal personality characteristics (deviate from cultural norm)
States vs traits debate: Mischel
How stable is behavior across situations
CONTEXT
traits are not very important determinants of behavior; rather the context of the behavior is most important
States vs traits debate: Bandura
How stable is behavior across situations
FUNCTIONALITY - REINFORCEMENT
trait theorists neglect the functionality of a behavior in a particular situation (reinforcement, etc.)
