What kind of tests does a psychologist do?

When you see a list of things that a psychologist does on a website or brochure, psychological testing and assessment are usually on the list. You may be wondering what that means. There are many types of psychological testing and assessment but the main purpose of psychological testing and assessment is to clarify what psychological issues may be affecting a person. Testing and assessment could be done for a number of reasons including:

• Intelligence
• Learning disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorder(s)
• Personality Testing
• ADHD
• Appropriateness for certain medical procedures
• Suitability for certain professions like law enforcement

Most of the time there are multiple things involved in psychological testing and assessment because it is important for psychologists to investigate many facets of a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and environment to help them understand the whole picture of what is going on. Tests and assessments may include things like questionnaires, puzzles, computer activities, a psychologist's observations, or a clinical interview. All of the pieces of an assessment that a psychologist chooses to do are important and are carefully integrated to provide the best picture possible of the person they are evaluating. Check out the video below about psychological testing for more information: