Objective and Projective Psychological Tests - Research Paper Example

? Personality Assessment and ification 214th, May Objective and Projective Psychological Tests Psychological testing is an important aspect in the field of psychology. This practice became popular during the period of World War II among clinical psychologists. Nonetheless, psychological tests today continue to play an important role in psychology, as these help in the assessment of mental health of different individuals. There are different types of tests, which a clinical psychologist might use to check and assess the behavior of an individual. These include personality tests, intelligence tests, neuropsychological tests, and achievement tests, among others. Depending on what mental aspect a clinical psychologist wants to assess, they might choose the relevant test for the case. However, the reliability and validity of psychological tests are two major important factors psychologists consider while appraising a particular test. Personality tests serve the purpose of evaluating various aspects of an individual’s social and emotional functioning. These tests include the objective and projective tests. The objective personality tests are those that present an individual with statements and questions, from which they have to choose and indicate whether those are true or false, or indicate whether they agree or disagree with a statement. In this case, the individual, and not the psychologist, makes the judgment (Meyer & Kurtz, 2006). On the other hand, projective personality tests ask an individual undergoing the test, for a stimulus. These do not require straightforward answers, as in the case of the objective personality tests. Projective tests require the psychologist conducting the test to employ their own judgment in assessing the individual, unlike in objective tests, where the individual undertaking the test predicts answers. In addition, progressive tests are less structured, compared to objective tests, thus, these are more involving to handle (Meyer & Kurtz, 2006). Although these personality tests have been in use throughout the past decades, there are various controversies, which have been raised concerning the reliability and validity of the objective and projective tests in psychological testing. Meyer and Kurtz (2006) have proposed for the retirement of the objective and projective personality tests. Their main reason for the proposal is for the need to advance the science of psychological assessment, since these two tests have been used for longer period through the past decades. Additionally, these tests are problematic, thus not reliable for valid results. Meyer & Kurtz (2006) hold various views about each personality test, and have different reasons why they think the test is problematic, and unreliable. Overall, these believe that the two terms, ‘objective’ and ‘projective’ are unclear in their meanings and lead to false results when used in psychological assessment methods. With regard to the objective tests, Meyer & Kurtz (2006) consider these not to be objective, as far as their results are concerned. Instead, these tests result in various scoring errors due to different biases. Additionally, the name of this test ‘objective’ makes psychologists trust the instrument, despite its erroneous results, thus resulting in the prejudice of other tests, which could be more effective. On the other hand, Meyers & Kurtz (2006) argue that just like the objective test, the results of projective test does not also reflect its name. These cite an example of the Rorschach inkblots, which is a type of projective test. The responses of this test are more concerned with problem-solving and stimulus classification, and less concerned with projection. Nonetheless, overall, Meyer & Kurtz consider objective and projective tests as misleading, and which will not have any positive influence in the field of psychology. Additionally, these methods have outlived their usefulness, thus, it is important to develop new terminologies, which will contribute to the advancement of science in psychology. Meyers & Kurtz (2006) have suggested that these tests be classified, and named according to their functionality, instead of adopting global terms for them, and this will be more meaningful. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a type of objective test, which is used to test different aspects of an individual’s personality. Nonetheless, the major purpose of MMPI is to assess psychopathology in individuals, through subjecting them to intensive psychiatric interviews. Apart from psychopathology, this measures personality traits such as paranoia, masculinity/femininity, social introversion, and hypomania, among others. Psychologists use these interviews to observe a person’s psyche. The individuals undertaking the MMPI test are required to give short answers of either yes or no, to the items in the questionnaire (Matsui et al 2002). In order to assess individuals, a trained psychologist issues the MMPI to them, which is a questionnaire comprising various questions relating to personality and psychopathy. This is important in order to select the normative sample group. The scoring and interpretation of MMPI is based on comparison with the scores of other individuals in the sample group. Creation of scales then follows the administering of the MMPI, including four validity and ten clinical scales. Therefore, the clinical scale will be developed by administering the MMPI to the two groups again. The scale of the individuals with psychopathology elements will also be developed through comparison with how the normal individuals answered the questions (Matsui et al 2002). As seen, the MMPI test comprises various questions, which the respondent must answer. However, before administering the personality test, the psychologist ensures that they are aware of the referral questions, which the respondents will address, including possible conclusions to these questions. The referral questions should also be clarified to the individuals taking the test. This way, a psychologist ensures that the collected data in the test is appropriate, therefore, making the interpretation of the data to be done in a useful manner. Referral questions in this personality test are core, as these determine the personality characteristics, which the test addresses. Therefore, the interpretation of personality assessment data in this test will base on the response to referral questions in order to infer about the mental and emotional status of an individual (Perfect, Tharinger, Keith & Lyle-Lahroud, 2011). Additionally, when administering the MMPI, it is crucial to determine the demographic information of the individuals involved in the test. This information includes age, race, gender, level of education, marital status, and socio-economic status, among others. This provides descriptive data of individuals, and is important in order to avoid generalization while using the statistical instruments during the analysis of data (Ames et al 2005). Furthermore, background data regarding the client’s current level of functioning and presenting problems is part of the descriptive data, which individuals undergoing the test will need to provide. This is instrumental in helping the psychologist assess the mental and emotional condition of the individuals concerned. Nonetheless, this information might be obtained from individuals through questions, which will depict the individuals’ intellectual functioning, adaptive ability, learning style, family history, and current psychosocial stressors, among others. Additionally, an individual might also report any primary medical condition and co-morbid medical conditions they experience, if any (Ames et al 2005). Such information is included in the opening section of personality assessment reports, under the identifying data, which also include case history. This information helps a psychologist to assess the emotional and mental state of the individual, and clinicians might use this information to develop appropriate interventions. References Ames et al (2005). Select Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales as predictors of tobacco abstinence following treatment for nicotine dependence. Psychology and Health, 20(3): 331-351. Matsui et al (2002). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory pro?le characteristics of schizotypal personality disorder. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 56, 443–452. Meyer, G. & Kurtz, J. (2006). Advancing Personality Assessment Terminology: Time to Retire “Objective” and “Projective” As Personality Test Descriptors. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87(3), 223–225 Perfect, M., Tharinger, D., Keith, T. & Lyle-Lahroud, T. (2011). Relations between Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–A Scales and Rorschach Variables with the Scope and Severity of Maltreatment among Adolescents. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93(6), 582–591. Read More