Uses and Applications of Psychological Tests in Different Settings of Pakistan

Uses and Applications of Psychological Tests in Different Settings of Pakistan

Psychological Test

“Psychological Test is an objective and standardized measure of sample of behavior”

Psychology test and methods have proved useful in solving some concrete problems whereas basic researchers test theories about mind and behavior, applied Psychologists are motivated by a desire to solve practical human problems. Psychology helps the human in many different fields 

Applications of Psychological Test

·        Interviewing Techniques.

·        Testing in Education: Tests of Ability in Education and Special Education.

·         Theories of Intelligence and the Binet Scales.

·        The Wechsler Intelligence Scales: WAIS-IV, WISC-IV, and WPPSI-III.

·        Testing in Industrial and Business Settings

·        Standardized Tests in Education, Civil Service, and the Military

·        Testing in Health Psychology and Health Care

·        Applications in Clinical and Counseling Settings

·        Computers and Basic Psychological Science in Testing

·        Projective Personality Tests

·        Intelligence Test

·        Cognitive Test

Testing in education

Tests of Ability in Education, Tests of Performance, intelligence tests etc are used in educational setting of Pakistan.

Psychological tests specially those of general intelligence and of specific aptitude have very extensive use in educational classification, selection and planning.

National Testing Service - Pakistan (NTS) is an organization in Pakistan that administers academic performance evaluation tests. It is similar to Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States. NTS offers two main types of tests, the National Aptitude Test (NAT)^[1] and the Graduate Assessment Test (GAT). NAT is aimed at students seeking admission to colleges and universities. GAT is aimed at graduates seeking admission to postgraduate education. NTS exams are also used to determine qualifications of students seeking advanced study abroad.

More tests used in Pakistani education settings are  Developmental assessments, Screening test, individual intelligence test, Individual academic achievement tests, Adaptive behavior scales, curriculum- based assessment and End of Grade, end of course and alternate assessment

Psychological test in Military

A closely relate application of psychological testing is to be found in the selection and classification of  military personnel.

Inter services Selection Board (ISSB)

Aim of Inter Services Selection Board is to select potential officers for the defense forces of Pakistan who have the requisite capabilities to successfully complete their course of training at the military academies and also possess physical, mental, social and dynamic qualities to make successful leaders during peace and war.Inter Services Selection Board caters for selection of candidates for training as potential officers for all the three services of Pakistan. Services Headquarters, however, plan the total number of candidates to be tested/inducted in various courses as per their overall requirement/schedule. The selection technique followed by the ISSB is three dimensional. All candidates appearing before the ISSB are to take three different types of tests, i.e. psych tests (intelligence, mechanical aptitude test and personality tests), GTO tests and Interview. The Psychologist Officers, Group Testing Officers and the Deputy Presidents, who are specialists in their respective fields, administer these tests in order to determine who possesses the potential for leading the military outfits in peace and war.

Psychological tests in Industries

Industrial and organizational Psychology Also known as I/O Psychology work, Work Psychology or Personnel Psychology is the scientific study of employees, workplaces and organizations. There are a variety of selection tests. They range from unstructured interviews to structured personality tests. The main goal of these tests is to predict job performance. Each test has its own relative strengths and weaknesses in this regard.  Commonly employed selection tests used in Pakistan are job interview, Personality testing, Mental ability tests and tests of Mental illness.

Applications in Clinical and Counseling Settings.

Health Psychology is concerned with understanding how biological, Psychological, environmental and cultural factors are involved in psychical Health and the prevention of illness. Health psychologist work alongside other professionals in clinical settings, work on behavior change In public health promotion.

In many ways the intelligence test is the foundation for differential diagnosis to the psychologist. The intelligence test measures major mental abilities that may be affected by the presence of an organic disease or injury, thought disorder.Myre-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) is a personality test that measures the psychological preferences of different people and help their strength and limitations, interest and satisfaction to make right choices. MBTI used in Pakistan’s clinical setting.

Two main types of tests are used in counseling and Guidance “Dimensions of Temperament Scale (DTS) and Family Environment Scale (FES)

Psychological tests in politics And Law

Political Psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to the relationship between Psychology and Political science, with a focus on the role of human thought, emotion and behavior in politics.  It analyze political science as related to entities such as voters, law makers, local and national Governments and administrations, international organizations , political parties and associations.Psychology in Law is also called Legal Psychology. Legal Psychology involves empirical, Psychological research of the law, Legal Institutions and people who come in to contact with the Law. Legal Psychologist typically takes basic, social and cognitive principles and apply them to issues in the legal system such as eye witness memory, Jury Decision-making, investigation and interviewing. Psychological tests are used in courts in jury selection, consulting with lawyers, police department ( Application of Psychological test in Politics and Law is not yet implemented in Pakistan)

Together legal Psychology and Forensic Psychology form the field more generally recognized as “Psychology and Law. A Forensic psychologist work with all types of court  cases including civil matters not involving a criminal psychologist use to evaluate the criminal.

Psychological tests in Sports

Sport Psychology is an interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from the field of kinesiology and Psychology. It involves the study of how Psychological factors affect performance and how participation in support and exercise affect Psychological and Physical factors. In addition to instructions and training of Psychological skills for performance improvement, applied support Psychology may include work with athletes, coaches and parents regarding injury, rehabilitation, Communication, team builder and career and transitions.

Personality Tests such as Myres Briggs type indicator, insight or lumina spark are the personality measures that most often get used in PCB Team. Performing tests are used to measure level of skills such as Sport confidence inventory and athlete  coping skill inventory, test of Performace Strategies used to get an understanding  of current level for psychological Skills of Players.

Psychological test in Traffic

 Traffic Psychology is a Young, Expanding and Wide field in Psychology. Whereas Traffic Psychology is primarily related to the study of the behavior of road users and the Psychological Processes underlying that behavior as well as to the relationship between behavior and accidents and transportation Psychology, sometimes referred to as mobility Psychology, Focuses on mobility issues, individual and social factors in the movement of people and goods, and travel demand management (TDM) (Application of Psychological test in Traffic setting of Pakistan is not yet implemented in Pakistan)