An Overview of Different Methods of Psychological Testing

Behavioral Observation, Interviews, & Objective Testing

There are a number of psychological testing and measurement methods available for researchers but not all methods are practical in all situations. Some of the methods available include: observation, interviews, and written tests. There are four primary descriptive methods including observations, surveys and interviews, standardized tests, and case studies (Feldman, 2010).

Observations have the advantage of being able to be utilized in different settings such as a laboratory or in real-world settings. The problem with this method is that if the subject knows that he or she is being observed then this realization can lead to unnatural behaviors.

Interviews are another popular method of research because it provides a large degree of personal information which is difficult to obtain from other methods. However, this method is prone to social bias in which the person being interviewed answers questions in a manner in which he or she believes that the interviewer desires to hear (Feldman, 2010).

Surveys or questionnaires allow researchers to measure particular aspects of the participant’s behaviors and/or cognitive functions. This method can be revealing in specific areas of mental processes, however, this method does rely on making comparisons with other subjects (Feldman, 2010).

References

Feldman, R. S. (2010). Psychology and your life. New York: McGraw Hill.