6 types of psychological tests

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 has the objective of evaluating a specific psychological characteristic.whether it be personality, intelligence…

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 that is used with the objective of evaluating one or more dimensions of the human psyche. The tests are based on observable behavior and also on unobservable behavior, and aim, in the latter case, to infer the mental state of the person, their thoughts, emotions… For these purposes, a subsequent analysis of the information obtained is essential. through the test.

Thus, psychological tests They try to measure what they “say” to measure – this, in itself, is a paradox –. Most of them are designed with the purpose of making the evaluation processes more agile. Therefore, they aim for the administration to be short and simple and for the results to be capable, at the same time, of giving the professional a good volume of precise and timely information for the context in which the test is administered.

Psychological tests try to ensure that the information obtained through them is valid and reliable to the extent possible.

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 talks about the following types of tests in psychology:

1. Psychometric tests

The first type of psychological test that Pervin proposes is psychometric tests. They are used to measure the characteristics of the person’s psyche. We are talking, for example, about 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: 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: evaluate the relationship between behavior and physiologythrough heart rate, temperature, sexual response…

3. Subjective tests

Next, we find subjective tests, which are the most common in psychology. Because?

Because evaluate aspects of the person’s internal world, their experiences, thoughts, emotions and personality. They do this through descriptions provided by the person according to a series of items.

4. Projective tests

Finally, another of the types of psychological tests that Pervin proposes are 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 narrate a story based on material presented in pictures (for example, the TAT, o Thematic Apperception Test. Constructive tests: the person must build an element through some pieces. Expressive tests: the person must draw a specific element. Associative tests: the person must associate a 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.

This type of test They 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.

Projective tests are the least structured, have a subjective nature and are used to evaluate deep aspects of the person.

Types of psychological tests according to their content

Depending on its content, that is, what characteristic of the psyche it is intended to evaluate, We find another classification of the tests. Within it we find tests of intelligence, personality, aptitudes, psychopathology, neuropsychology, professional guidance…

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

Through intelligence tests The aim is to discover the cognitive potential of a person, that is, their intellectual capacity, adaptation and understanding of the environment.

An example of this type of test is the Raven test, whose objective is to measure IQ. We are talking about a non-verbal test that is focused on the person’s ability to compare and reason by analogies.

2. Personality test

Personality tests They seek to know personality traits of the person and their style when behaving, relating and reacting to environmental stimuli. Thus, they are tests that allow us to know how it sees the world and how it acts 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 evaluating typical personality. That is, 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?

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