Types of Psychological Testing
If you have made the decision to have yourself or your child psychologically evaluated, you may still feel like you’re in the dark about what that really means and entails. Just the name itself can be intimidating and overwhelming and you are absolutely not alone in feeling that way. It’s easy to let your mind wander to the big questions you may have and already get caught up in the nerves and uncertainty.
The important thing to remember is that psychological testing and evaluation is in place to help you. The clinical psychologist that you will be testing with is there for you; to learn about your strengths and weaknesses, figure out what is working and what isn’t and arrive at a true diagnosis that will help you move forward in life. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers, no judgment and absolutely no pressure to perform a certain way.
Psychological testing and evaluation is there to assess your behavior, symptoms and abilities – in order to provide you with a detailed and in-depth understanding of where you are at mentally and emotionally. If you have a mental health condition or other diagnosis when it is complete, then you will then be supported through the process of seeking the best treatment for you.
Every step of the way you, or your child, will be supported and considered.
What is psychological testing?
Psychological testing involves a series of assessments performed by a clinical psychologist that will be used to discover a mental health diagnosis based upon factors such as their behavior, emotions, learning and social skills, and cognitive abilities. The goal of psychological testing is to take a deeper look at symptoms that you have been noticing or experiencing and find the root cause based on a professional observation.
If you are having a hard time conceptualizing what these tests really do, think of them in terms of a medical exam. If you are experiencing physical symptoms and visit your doctor for them, they will then run a series of standardized tests according to your set of symptoms in order to hone in on a diagnosis. What comes next is the ability to receive proper care and treatment and take the necessary steps to health. That is exactly what psychological testing is.
The tests performed can fall into one of two categories:
Objective tests: are standardized questions with set answers such as multiple choice, true or false, or yes or no. There is less room for context or deeper insight in these tests.
Projective tests: involve different prompts, questions and stimuli that will elicit reaction and explanation. The projective technique responses will be evaluated in hopes of uncovering hidden emotions or conflict.
Psychological tests are each scientifically formulated and chosen to guarantee reliability, objectivity and accuracy. The clinical psychologists performing the assessments are expertly trained and educated in performing the tests and interpreting the information before them, in order to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Why would you need psychological testing?
Psychological testing is recommended for a multitude of reasons. Most commonly in hopes of discovering a mental health diagnosis or identify and diagnose a learning or cognitive disability as well, but there is a wide range of reasons why someone would seek psychological testing outside of just mental health conditions.
Some of the most common reasons or needs for psychological testing are:
ADHD evaluations
Identifying personality disorder traits
Learning disorder evaluations
Evaluations required for employment
Select forensic evaluations including psychosexual evaluations required for employment
School-related evaluations for early entrance into kindergarten or to qualify for other school services/programs, such as talent and gifted program, 504 Plan, IEP
Clarification of mental health diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations
If you are considering psychological testing for your or your child/teen, but aren’t sure if it’s necessary, here are some of the most common indications that psychological testing may be needed:
Change in sleeping patterns
Withdrawal socially
Sudden adjustment in mood
Difficulty completing every-day tasks
Issues with concentration and focus
Nervousness or signs of anxiety
There are several tests and types of tests used in psychological testing, but it’s good to have a general idea of what types of conditions are being looked for or can be looked for in testing.
Cognitive and Socioemotional Testing
Cognitive testing is, stated generally, to assess your ability to judge reality effectively. Cognitive tests are designed to determine whether you have any cognitive impairments, memory concerns, or brain injuries.
Reasons you may seek the help of cognitive testing include:
Struggling to remember important information
Feeling as though it takes a long time for you to understand directions
Experiencing changes following a concussion
Struggling when your attention is required in multiple places at once
Personality and Emotional Functioning
Psychological testing for your emotional functioning can be used to clarify a mental health diagnosis or discover a mental health condition. This type of psychological testing will look deeper into your symptoms, mood, emotions, the way you interact with others and how you think about and face life.
Reasons you should seek the help of psychological testing for your personality or emotional state include:
Recent changes to your mood; irritability, sad, angry
Engaging in unhealthy relationships or having high stress in your relationships
Finding difficulty relinquishing control
Engaging in compulsive behaviors in a way that can be harmful to you
Questioning why you process and think about things the way you do
Learning Abilities
Psychological testing, in addition to mental health diagnosis, is designed to recognize and diagnose different learning disabilities or impairments; such as ADHD. These diagnoses are incredibly useful to learn as early as possibly, in order to receive the proper accommodations and support to help the individual thrive in a school or learning setting. Learning disabilities don’t have to hold back an individual from optimal success and with early recognition and early intervention, it won’t.
Indications that psychological testing for learning disabilities may be needed include:
Experiencing challenges planning, organizing or prioritizing tasks
Finding it difficult to maintain motivation, especially on lengthy tasks or tasks that are labor-intensive
Feeling restless, overwhelmed or irritable
Feeling emotions very intensely or having trouble controlling your intense emotions
Avoiding tasks that you are struggling with altogether
Types of Psychological Tests
The different types of psychological tests are extensive and can be overwhelming. Here is some information on each type of test that may be offered in a psychological evaluation. It’s important to note that not each person seeking psychological testing will experience each test available. The clinical psychologist who is performing your evaluation will choose the series of tests and exercises that they feel are best for your specific set of needs.
Personality Tests
The object of a personality test is to measure behaviors, emotions, attitude and behavioral and environmental characteristics.
Tests: Basic Personality Inventory (BPI), 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire
Achievement Tests
Measures intellectual interests, achievements and cognitive abilities
Tests: Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery, Kaufman Test of Education Achievement (K-TEA)
Attitude Tests
Measures the views of respondents based on how much they or do not agree with a statement
Tests: Likert Scale, Thurstone Scale
Aptitude Tests
Measures the individual’s skill sets, capabilities and projection of future success
Tests: Visual Reasoning Test, Abstract Reasoning Test
Emotional Intelligence Tests
Measures any mental and developmental learning disabilities
Tests: Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Universal Non-verbal Intelligence
Neuropsychological Tests
Measures cognitive abilities like language, executive functioning and memory
Tests: Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Ammons Quick Test
Projective Tests
Measures feedback from external influences to identify unrealized emotions and conflicts
Tests: Rorschach Inkblot Test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Observation (direct) Tests
Measures immediate observable behavior; performed in a laboratory, clinical or a natural setting
What to expect?
If you are planning for psychological testing for either you or your child, it can be comforting to know a little bit about what to expect. First, it is crucial to remember that you do NOT need to prepare, study or practice for this testing. The tests that you will take, whether multiple choice assessments or clinical interviews, are not meant to be passed or failed. They are designed to be a “snapshot” of your abilities and where you are really at. It is normal human nature to feel that there is a significant amount of pressure surrounding any test-taking, but it’s so important with psychological evaluations to try your best to enter it with a calm mind and ready to answer each question as honestly and authentically as you can.
Typically, you will expect to meet with your licensed psychologist for an initial intake interview, where they will go over background information and current functioning information. You should then anticipate returning for either one long test session, or two shorter test sessions. The testing process can take anywhere from 3-7 hours, depending on the circumstance. These tests are intricate, detailed and thorough. The psychologist is trained to take their time and make as detailed of an assessment as possible. This means allowing for variables like cognitive response time, language, memory, etc.
Book Your Evaluation
At Insight Northwest Counseling, we are now offering psychological testing and evaluation at our Portland, Oregon office. We are eager to provide our testing services to you and hope to walk by your side every step of your journey through testing, diagnosis and treatment. With our incredible team of professionals, we can offer you full-spectrum care for the challenges you are facing.
We are ready to meet you where you are and support you in any way we can. Call us for more information or book a free consultation online today.