Psych/655 Psychometrics, Discussion Question

Psychological testing, though it might not have been defined as such, has been used in various forms for thousands of years. Most people, even if they are not a psychologist or counselor use various methods to better understand an individual. In the early part of this course, we will be exploring the history of psychological assessments including methods, purposes, and attitudes towards the procedures. Psychological assessments/evaluations have evolved over the years and now the process of evaluation is much more formal, with consideration of the ethics surrounding how that test will be used.

Consider the various ways psychological testing has been used over the years and how it has evolved to what it is today.

Respond to the following questions in a substantive way integrating information from your text or other scholarly sources (please include citations and references for your work):

What are current purposes and methods of psychological assessments?

How have the current methods evolved from previous methods? Why was there a need for them to evolve (i.e., were there any negative consequences of previous psychological testing?)?

Do you believe testing can be conducted in a fair and unbiased manner? Why or why not?

What are factors that need to be considered to insure psychological testing is used in a legal and ethical manner?

What are some factors that make a good psychological test?