From our birth, tests have a major influence on our lives. When the pediatric strokes the palms of our hands and soles of our feet…she/he is performing a test. When we enter school, tests decide whether we pass or fail classes. Testing may determine if we need special education. Competence test determine our graduate admissions and career selection.
A test is hence a measurement device or technique used to quantify behavior or aid in the understanding and prediction of behavior. A test measures only a sample of behavior and error is always associated with a sampling process. Test scores are not perfect measures of a behavior or characteristics, but they do add significantly to the prediction process.
The most basic concept underlying Psychological Testing pertains to individual differences. No two snowflakes are identical, no two fingerprints the same. Similarly no two people are exactly alike in ability and typical behavior. Tests are specifically designed to measure these individual differences in ability and personality among people.
A psychological test is a set of items designed to measure characteristics of human beings that pertain to behavior. There are many types of behavior. Overt behavior – which is an individual’s observable activity. Covert behavior - that which takes place within an individual and cannot be directly observed, example feelings and thoughts. Psychological Tests measures both these behavior using different yardsticks. Psychological tests also measure past or present behavior. Some also attempt to predict future behavior – such as success in college or in advanced degree programs.
There are types of Psychological Tests – broadly divided as Ability and Personality tests. There is a clear cut distinction between both. Ability tests are related to capacity and potential, whereas Personality tests are related to the overt and covert dispositions of the individual.
Ability tests are historically distinguished by experts among achievement, aptitude, and intelligence tests. Where Achievement refers to the previous learning; Aptitude by contrast refers to the potential for learning or acquiring a specific skill; and Intelligence refers to a person’s general potential to solve problems, adapt to changing circumstances and think abstractly.
There are several types of Personality tests – Structured or objective and Unstructured or Projective tests.
Psychometric testing uses multiple sets of questions relating to personality type, how the test taker would handle aspects of work and home life, what his or her goals are for the future and his or her strengths and weaknesses. If the test taker is honest and the employed tests follow scientific standards, the results should be fairly accurate and useful for counseling, guidance & HR related activities such as selection, etc.
Standardized Psychological tests are used in Competitive tests like GRE (Graduate Record test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test) etc., which play a major role in admission to the Graduate courses in certain Universities.
Hence Psychometric testing covers a wide range of skills, interests and values of people and can be of use in Counseling in different ways. For example, the information won from such tests can be of help for the professionals who mentor, coach or counsel individuals.