Principles of Psychological Assessment
Multi-method assessment, screening vs. diagnosis, and ethical use of test results.
Slide 1 of 3
Multi-method, multi-source assessment
- Combining self-report, performance tasks, and informant data reduces single-method bias.
- Convergence across methods strengthens confidence in a conclusion.
- Discrepancies are informative, not merely error.
Slide 2 of 3
Screening vs. diagnosis
- Screeners are brief, sensitive tools that flag who may need fuller evaluation.
- A score above a cut-off is not a diagnosis.
- Sensitivity and specificity quantify a screener's classification accuracy.
Slide 3 of 3
Interpreting scores responsibly
- Consider measurement error: report confidence ranges, not just point scores.
- Context, base rates, and corroborating information shape interpretation.
- Communicate findings in accessible, non-stigmatizing language.