Psychological Impact Paper

History of Psychological Assessment Paper

Steven Cheatham

Psychology/ 525 Measurements and Statistics

2/13/12

Marsha Harbin PHD

Abstract

According to Wikipedia (which is not a major valid source), "psychological testing is characterized by the use of samples of behavior in order to assess psychological construct such as cognitive and emotional functioning, about a given individual. Initially testing was implemented as a way of selecting who, of many applicants, would obtain government jobs. Tests and testing as they are known today first came into being in China as early as 2200 B.C. Psychological test and assessments are provided by professionals with the idea of collecting, diagnosing, evaluating, and examining clients in care. Psychological test and assessments provide industry professionals the opportunity to set a standard of providing care to patients and future clients. There are many assessment/test that have been instrumental to the development and incorporation of testing in the field this writer will focus on the Wihelm Max Wundt testing assessment and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

The Wihelm Max Wundt testing assessment goal was to create a description of human abilities at the same time respecting variables such as attention span, perception and reaction time. Wundt's work and research centralized on finding ways to demonstrate and show how people were similar and not different. Wundt's end goal was to assure that differences observed in performance are different from people who are being measured and are not variables (Cohen, R.J. and Swerdlik, M.E. (2010)).

This writer is employed as a social worker primarily working in the field with individuals whom are diagnosed as being developmentally disabled. Working in this field which deals mostly with people's mental health one of the most frequently used personality test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The MMPI is used to aid in identifying psychopathology and personality structure. This psychological test/assessment was developed in the late 1930's by a psychologist and psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota which is where the name (MMPI) or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory derived.

The original MMPI at the time it was derived was not based on a particular theory and was done by selecting items that were endorsed by patients diagnosed with particular