Introduction to Psychological Tests and Their Uses

is “a critical examination, observation, or evaluation.” Its closest synonym is trial. The word critical, in turn, is defined as “relating to . . . a turning point or specially important juncture” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 1995). No wonder, then, that when the term psychological appears in front of the word test, the resulting phrase acquires a somewhat threatening connotation. Psychological tests are often used to evaluate individuals at some turning point or significant juncture in their lives. Yet, in the eyes of many people, tests seem to be trials on which too much depends and about which they know all too little. To a large extent, the purpose of this book is to give readers enough information about psychological tests and testing to remove their threatening connotations and to provide the means whereby consumers of psychological tests can gain more knowledge about their specific uses. Thousands of instruments can accurately be called psychological tests. Many more usurp the label either explicitly or by suggestion. The first objective of this book is to explain how to separate the former from the latter. Therefore, we start with the defining features that legitimate psychological tests of all types share. These features not only define psychological tests but also differentiate them from other kinds of instruments.