Module 2: Nature of
Psychological Testing and
Assessment
DISCUSSION
Introduction to RA 10029
The State recognized the important role of psychologists in the
nation-building and development; their role in various settings and
psychological services they provide to the diverse types of clientele,
and also recognized the need to protect the public in preventing
inexperienced or untrained individuals from offering psychological
services.
Introduction to RA 10029
Rationale for the Psychology law and the
licensure examination: To have a credible
licensure examination and impositions and
promotion of regulatory measures, programs
and activities that will enhance their
professional growth and well-being
Republic Act of 2009 (RA 10029): The
Philippine Psychology Act of 2009
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
signed the bill on March 16, 2010
Psychometrician
A natural person who holds a valid certificate
of registration and a valid professional
identification card as psychometrician
Issued by the Professional Regulatory Board
of Psychology and the Professional
Regulation Commission
Psychometrician
Under the supervision of a licensed professional
psychologist
Authorized to do any of the following:
(1) administering and scoring of objective
personality tests, structured personality
tests, excluding projective tests and other
higher level forms of psychological tests;
(2) interpreting results of the same and
preparing a written report on these results;
and (3) conducting preparatory intake
interviews of clients for psychological
invention sessions.
Licensure Examination Subjects:
Psychometrician
The four licensure examination subjects:
(a) Theories of Personality;
(b) Abnormal Psychology;
(c) Industrial Psychology;
(d) Psychological Assessment
Psychologist
A natural person who is duly registered and holds a valid certificate of
registration and a valid professional identification card as professional
psychologist, issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology and
the Professional Regulation Commission pursuant to this Act for the
purpose of delivering the different psychological services defined in this
Act
Licensure Examination Subjects:
Psychologist
The four licensure examination subjects:
(a) Advanced Theories of Personality
(b) Advanced Abnormal Psychology
(c) Advanced Psychological Assessment
(d) Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy
Psychometrician vs. Psychologist
Psychometrician: Western Context
“Psychometrician” came from the word psychometrics (a subfield of
quantitative psychology, the science involving theory and technique of
psychological measurement)
A psychometrician in the Western context: a specialist in psychology who
develops and evaluates psychological tests
Expected to develop tests and instruments with a goal to
measure psychological variables and individual differences and
make sure that these are statistically viable to measure indeed
such variables and differences within individuals.
Francis Galton, Karl Pearson, and Charles Spearman are
considered
Psychometrician: Philippine Context
A psychometrician is expected to administer, score, interpret,
psychological tests particularly paper & pencil or the so-called
objective type of tests with items that require precise answer and
structured test administration, scoring and interpretation; prepare
report of tests administered, and conduct intake interviews of clients
for psychological intervention sessions.
Psychologist
Typical functions: Psychological assessment and diagnosis
(individual or organizational); conduct of treatment planning or any
psychological intervention program; and psychological program
development and implementation
Both psychometricians and psychologists are likewise called test-
users
Psychological Testing vs. Psychological
Assessment
Psychological Testing
The “process of measuring psychology-related variables by means
of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior”
(Cohen & Swerdlik, 2018, p2)
Psychological Assessment
The process of gathering and integrating of psychology-related data
obtained with the use of various procedures such as individual tests,
projective techniques, interviews, behavioral observation, and other
relevant psychological assessment methodologies for the purpose of
assessing diverse psychological functions including cognitive abilities,
aptitudes, personality characteristics, attitudes, values, interests,
emotions and motivations, among others, in support of psychological
counseling, psychotherapy and other psychological interventions, with
the end-goal of making a psychological evaluation (Cohen &
Swerdlik, 2018)
Psychological Assessment as a Process
A problem-solving process that begins with a referral source and
culminates into a psychological report
Referral source – anyone as representative in any setting whether
clinical, forensic, company, school, or any government, private firms,
and NGO’s who refers identified person for psychological assessment
Psychological Assessment Process
Administration of Analysis and
Gathering of
relevant integration of Report writing
Client relevant psychology-
psychological relevant psychology- (Psychological
Referral related
assessment related evaluation)
data/information
procedures data/information
Psychological assessment as a puzzle:
data/information collected with the use of
different procedures are analyzed and integrated
to come up with a holistic picture of the
individual as a way to address concerns and
issues of a particular client within the normal
population, and patient in the clinical setting
Psychological Assessment Process:
A Multimethod Approach
The various sources of data may come from the use of any of the
following procedures: psychological tests; interview; behavioral
observation; case-history data collection; portfolio assessment;
situational performance test; and computer-assisted testing
(Multimethod Approach)
Psychological Assessment Procedures
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
Refer to a measuring device, tool, or procedure
Test as a noun while testing connotes the process of
administration of the measuring device to an individual or
group of them as earlier discussed comparing the term with
psychological assessment
Defining features of a psychological test: content or the items,
response format, standardized procedures for administration,
scoring, and interpretation, and technical quality or utility,
which means, having psychometric properties in the form of
reliability, validity, and norms for standardization (i.e..,
psychological testing as a highly structured and objective
process of measuring individual characteristics)
