A Guide to Psychological Testing and Assessment, Research Paper Example

Personality Tests help in the determination of an individuals character. They focus upon those traits normally associated with behaviour, thoughts, feelings and emotions. There are a number of different types of personality tests and these include: (Projective Personality Tests)

1. Rorschach ink blot test: “This test is a method of psychological evaluation used by psychiatrists the world over. There are 10 such Rorschach Ink Blots – 5 of them are black ink on white paper, 2 are black and red ink on white paper and the remaining 3 are multicoloured. These are shown to the individuals about to be tested. These can also be rotated. One by one, the individual looks at these ink blots and talks about what he sees / perceives in the picture and what makes it look that way to him. While the patient talks, the psychiatrists writes down what is being said. ”  (Ghare, 2010)
2. Myers-Briggs test: One of the most popular and widely used tests today. The test was developed by Isabel Myers-Briggs and built around theories of the psychologist Carl Jung. It identifies 16 personality types in the model theorem.
3. Kiersey Temperament Theory: Based loosely upon the Myers-Briggs theory this method claims that there are two sides of the personality i.e. temperament and character. It also explores the 16 personality types.

Interview methods  are techniques that are often used for borderline personality disorders (BPD) ” However, the relative validity of these methods has not been sufficiently tested. The current study used data from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality disorder Study to compare diagnostic base rates and the relative validity of interview and self-report methods for assessing functional outcome in BPD. Although self-report yielded higher base rates of criteria endorsement, results did not support the common assumption that diagnostic interviews are more valid than self-reports, but instead indicated the combined use of these methods optimally identifies BPD criteria.”  (Hopwood CJ, 2008).

Observational assessments  are conducted in a controlled environment like a classroom or experimental area.  ” Interviews may be either structured with a standard agenda, or unstructured, allowing the subject to determine much of what is discussed and in what order. Impressions gained from interviews are often recorded using rating scales listing different personality traits. Expectations of the observer, conveyed directly or through body language and other subtle cues, may influence how the interviewee performs and how the observer records and interprets his or her observations.” (Psychology Encyclopedia, 2010). “The best known objective personality test is the MMPI. This test was created primarily to measure psychopathology. It contains several validity scales to determine if the client is responding to the questions accurately and truthfully, and it also contains ten basic clinical scales. Hundreds of additional scales have been created for the MMPI to measure virtually every personality trait and emotion conceivable. The MMPI was recently revised; the MMPI-2 is now the more commonly used edition. The MMPI is interpreted by looking at scale elevations and configurations. Although limited interpretation can be done by computer programs, a skilled psychologist is needed to make accurate interpretation which take into account a person’s background and other test data ”  (Jonathan Rich, 2010).

Works Cited

Ghare, M. (2010). buzzle.com. Retrieved 4 22, 2010, from Personality Tests: Testing Personality Types: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/personality-tests-testing-personality-types.html

Hopwood CJ, M. L. (2008, 3 20). Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Pub Med: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18315403

Jonathan Rich, P. (2010). A Guide to Psychological Testing and Assessment. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Psychological Testing: http://www.psychologicaltesting.com/objectiv.htm

Psychology Encyclopedia. (2010). Psychological Assessment. Retrieved 4 24, 2010, from Psychology Encyclopedia: http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/46/Assessment-Psychological.html