Psychological Assessment

Synonyms

Psychological testing; Psychological evaluation

Definition

Psychological assessment is the process of gathering information about a child to make informed decisions [2]. Interviewing the child (or their caregivers), observing behavior in different settings, and administering standardized tests with the child or their caregiver are all commonly used methods of gathering such information. Psychological assessment can take any or all of these forms for a particular child.

Description

Psychological assessment is vital to the training, practice, and definition of professional psychology [1]. Most psychologists engage in some type of assessment as part of their practice. Sattler [2] discussed the "four pillars of assessment", a model that is typically referenced when describing this practice.

Psychological assessment typically involves observations of the child, often in different environments (school, testing appointment, or with peers). Interviewing