It might sound crazy but there is a slight distinction between psychological testing and psychological assessment tests. Testing is quite limited in its attempts and application which mainly consists of administration of the test, scoring and interpretation of the test scores. But an assessment test generally consists of a more comprehensive and wide area of application including the entire process of compiling and synthesis of information, in order to make a prediction about the person.
The terms testing and assessment are oftenconfused.Hence it is necessary to distinguish between these two terms clearly and unambiguously. The fundamentalgoal of assessment is toprovide a person and evaluate him in terms of his present and future functioning. Behaviours are classified into different categories and measured against a normative standard in case of an assessment. Tests on the contrary are used in assessment processes, but it is to be mentioned that not all assessment techniques are tests. This is to say that the tests form a part of the assessments.
A test generally has the following characteristics:
- A test is usually a structured, chronological sequence of stimuli. Objectivity in the test items are ensured through the processing of the latter via administration and standardized techniques. A test can be classified variously, from the perspective of various criteria. Such a criterion is administrative condition. Tests can be classified on the foundation of the administrative conditions into two major types, individual tests and group tests.
Individual tests are those kinds of tests which are usually administered to one single person at a particular time. One such example is the architecture aptitude test abbreviated AAT. Although the greater number of applications of the individual tests are mostly found in schools and colleges,to increase the motivation of the children and observe how they respond.They are greatly used in organizations and industries in various selection and recruitment procedures.Individually administered tests are given oral instructions, and require the consistent attention of the examiners. However there are two limitations of individual tests. First, these tests are used when there is a dire need of undertaking a crucial decision. Second these tests are very time consuming and they also need experts and trained examiners for their effective and successful administration.
The group tests are such tests which are administered to more than one person or in a group at some point of time. Such tests are adequate for the measurement of the cognitive skills, that measure achievement weakness of applicants, their strength etc. Bell adjustment inventory is one such sample of group test.
- The scores or categories obtained from any psychological test are subject to interpretation and inference, with reference to a previously standardized sample.
- A psychological test qualitatively and quantitatively assesses a person’s traits.
- Psychological tests are either interpreted with retrospection to the standardizedexemplum, or with reference to the strictly outlined criteria or an educational objective.
- Psychological tests are usually based upon a minor illustration ofbehaviour.
