History of Psychological
Assessment
Ancient China
• 2200 BCE – China has their own civil service exam to determine who
will work for the imperial government
• Greco-Roman writings about personality in relation to bodily fluids
• Testing later returned in World War I for recruitment
Intelligence Test
• Alfred Binet (1857-1911) – Developed a measuring scale of
intelligence together with Theodore Simon in 1905
• Later became the Stanford-Binet Test of Intelligence which is in its 5th edition
as of 2019
• David Wechsler – conceptualized intelligence as the aggregate or
global capacity of the individual to act purposefully to think rationally
and to deal effectively with his environment (1939)
• Originally known as Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale but later revised and
renamed to become Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Personality Test
• During WW1, recruits are also tested for their general adjustment
under the disguise of “personal Data Sheet”
• Personality Test are usually self-report in nature
• Projective Test – another type of personality test. An individual is
assumed to project onto some ambiguous stimulus his or her own
unique needs, fears, hopes and motivation
Academic and Applied Traditions
• Testing are developed in two fields; academic and applied
• Researchers at universities throughout the world use tools of
assessment to help advance knowledge and understanding of human
and animal behavior (Academe)
• Most though are in the applied setting. Government, businesses,
corporations are using tools of assessment to improve their products
and services
Culture and Assessment
• Culture – socially transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs and products
of work of a particular population, community or group of people
• Culture must always be considered in doing assessment
• Immigrants and people in multicultural countries are susceptible to
culture bias
Issues regarding culture and assessment
• Verbal Communication – language barrier, lost in translations
• Nonverbal Communication – Some non-verbal cues are not universal
• Standards of evaluation
Tests and Group Membership
• Conflict – When groups systematically differ in terms of scores on a
particular test
• Ethnic groups failing in tests
• Discrimination
• Affirmative action – “leveling the playing field”
• Voluntary and mandatory efforts undertaken by groups (public/private) to
combat discrimination and to promote equal opportunity for all in education
and employment
Legal and Ethical Considerations
• Code of Ethics (PAP and APA)
The Concerns of the Public
• Some people are not convinced that Testing is sufficient or useful
• Others are even fearful about tests because they think it might be
used against them (like in firing them in a job)
• RA 10029 – The Psychology Law
Concerns of the Profession
• Test User Qualifications – APA Committee on Ethical Standards
• Level A – achievement or proficiency test
• Level B – Aptitude tests, adjustment inventories (needs background in
Psychology)
• Level C – Projective tests, individual mental tests(Substantial understanding in
psychology)
• In the Philippines
• Psychometrician – Test administration and Scoring of standardized test
• Psychologist – Test administration, scoring, interpretation of standardized test
and projective tests
• Testing people with disabilities
• Computerized test administration, soring and interpretation
• Access to test administration, scoring and interpretation software (pirate
copy)
• Comparability of pencil-and-paper and computerized versions of tests
• The value of computerized test interpretations
• Unprofessional, unregulated “psychological testing” online
The Rights of Testtakers
• The right to informed consent
• General purpose of testing
• Specific reason it is being undertaken in the present case
• General type of instruments to be administered
• Right to be informed to test findings
• The right to privacy and confidentiality
• The right to least stigmatizing label
• The right to withdraw
