By Psychological tests are very common in assessment. They are usually administered in the first sessions because of their ability to give us information about what is happening and to what degree.
For many decades now, psychologists have been evaluating behaviors, thoughts and emotions through psychological tests or standardized tests. A psychological test is an experimental instrument that aims to evaluate a specific psychological characteristic , whether it be personality, intelligence, etc.
We can talk about different types of psychological tests depending on their characteristics and the criteria used when making a certain classification. In this article we will talk about one of the most accepted classifications, Pervin’s, and also about the classification of tests based on their content, with different examples. Take note!
What is a psychological test?
A psychological test can be defined as a reliable and valid test used to assess one or more dimensions of the human psyche. Tests are based on observable and also on non-observable behaviour, and in the latter case, they aim to infer the mental state of the person, their thoughts, emotions, etc. For these purposes, a subsequent analysis of the information obtained through the test is essential.
Thus, psychological tests aim to measure what they “claim” to measure – this, in itself, is a paradox . Most of them are designed with the purpose of making assessment processes more agile. Therefore, they aim for administration to be short and simple and for the results to be able, at the same time, to give the professional a good volume of precise and timely information for the context in which the test is administered.
Types of psychological tests: Pervin’s classification
We find different classifications of types of psychological tests depending on the criteria used. One of the most important, because it is the most accepted and widespread, is the one proposed by Pervin, who speaks of the following types of tests in psychology:
1. Psychometric tests
The first type of psychological test proposed by Pervin is psychometric testing. These are used to measure the characteristics of a person’s psyche . Examples include intelligence tests and aptitude tests.
2. Objective tests
Objective tests, according to Pervin, are based on physiological correlates , in order to measure a certain element. Among them we find:
- Cognitive tests: they evaluate cognitive aspects of the person, such as attention, memory, perception…
- Motor tests: measure the execution of muscular/motor responses to various stimuli
- Psychophysiological tests: they evaluate the relationship between behavior and physiology , through heart rate, temperature, sexual response, etc.
3. Subjective tests
Next, we find subjective tests, which are the most common in psychology. Why?
Because they evaluate aspects of the person’s internal world , their experiences, thoughts, emotions and personality. They do so through descriptions that the person provides according to a series of items.
4. Projective tests
Finally, another type of psychological test proposed by Pervin is projective tests , based on psychoanalysis (psychodynamic tests). They are used to analyze and evaluate personality traits, as well as internal and operational aspects of the psyche . Depending on their characteristics, we find different types of projective tests:
- Structural tests: the person must make sense of and organize visual material (for example, the Rorschach test ).
- Thematic tests: the person is asked to tell a story based on material presented on slides (for example, the TAT , or Thematic Apperception Test).
- Constructive tests: the person must build an element using some pieces.
- Expressive tests : the person must draw a specific element.
- Associative test: the person must associate one word or phrase with another, or with a stimulus that is provided.
- Refractory tests: they are based on writing, for example, that is, on the products of the person’s activity.
These types of tests have less structured stimuli. This allows them to collect more open responses and to be very good in contexts where the professional has a lot of experience in administration or in those early stages of the evaluation, which are more exploratory.
Types of psychological tests according to their content
Depending on their content, that is, what characteristic of the psyche they are intended to assess, we find another classification of tests. Within this we find tests of intelligence, personality, aptitudes, psychopathology, neuropsychology, professional orientation, etc.
However, we will focus on two of the most widely known types of psychological tests in terms of their content: intelligence tests and personality tests:
1. Intelligence test
Intelligence tests are used to discover a person’s cognitive potential , that is, their intellectual capacity and ability to adapt to and understand the environment.
An example of this type of test is the Raven test , which aims to measure the IQ. We are talking about a non-verbal test that focuses on a person’s ability to compare and reason by analogy.
2. Personality test
Personality tests seek to understand a person’s personality traits and their style when it comes to behaving, relating and reacting to environmental stimuli. Thus, they are tests that allow us to know how a person sees the world and how they act within it.
An example of a personality test is the 16PF (16 Personality Factors), a questionnaire designed by psychologist Raymond Cattell in 1993, with the aim of assessing typical personality . In other words, it is not intended to diagnose personality disorders.
And you, did you know any of these tests? Have you ever been administered one of them? What do you think about evaluating the human psyche through this tool?