Posted by gardenergirl on September 21, 2004, at 20:48:57
In reply to Re: Psychological/personality testing?, posted by dazedandconfused on September 21, 2004, at 17:36:38
I think anytime you are considering undergoing psychological testing you should consider a few questions. First, what is the purpose of the testing? What do you or the person who suggested it hope to get out of it? As someone who occasionally administers psych. testing, I always like this to be as specific as possible. I like to talk with the person ahead of time to find out what questions they have about themselves, or in the case of a physcian referring for testing...what does the doc want to know that I can provide. This helps in choosing what tests to give and helps in writing the most relevant report.
Second, I would want to know who "owns" the report and the testing. In other words, who is really the client of the person administering the test? For example, if it is a court-ordered test for custody evaluation, the "customer" is the court--NOT the person being tested. This is the same if it is testing for disability determination. I think that most states still allow the client to receive test feedback, but it's important to know to whom the testing psychologist is bound to. This may affect how you approach taking the test.
Third, I would want to know a little something about the tests and what they are purported to measure. You don't want to research so much or be told so much by the person giving the test that it spoils the test for you. In my opinion, there is no value to you if you are truly interested in what the test says about you if you "study" for it. That being said, often in highly charged situations, like a custody eval. attorneys may provide some coaching to the client on how to take the test in order to have it work in their best interest. I have mixed feelings about this. I can see a buyer beware outlook as being helpful, but I also truly appreciate a "pure" test experience as that would be more valid and reliable than one of someone who was coached or researched ahead of time.
I would also ask the tester any questions you have, and if you want feedback, ask what kind and how you can get that. If you have specific questions you want answered from the test, and that is within the realm of the referral and testing, then that shouldn't be a problem (depending, though, on who is the client...a court or you or whomever...).
I think that's about all for my little speech on psych. testing. Regarding the specific tests you asked about, Racer, here's what I know:
WISC: Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (sorry, you don't qualify!) :)
WIAT: Wechsler Independent Achievement Test. This is like testing for school based skills...the three R's. Not sure of the age range on this one.
MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. A paper and pencil objective personality test.
CAT: Children's Apperception Test. A series of ambiguous pictures where you comment on them. Again, I think you might be too old. But there are adult apperception tests, i.e. the TAT.
CPT: Continuous Performance Test. A motor test for attention that is often used in ADHD evals.
DICA: got's no clue on this one, sorry. Okay, Google says Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents. Probably a structured, standardized interview.
MACI: Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory. Similar to the MMPI, but a different test and used for adolescents.
NEPSY: hmmm, haven't heard of this one. It may have something to do with neuropsychological tests. Brain based stuff.
WRAML: Oh, I should know this, but I forget and it's not in my textbook. Ah, love google. Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning. There is a second edition that just came out.Hope this helps.
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:393061
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040918/msgs/393484.html