What Counselors Should Know About the Use and Interpretation of Psychological Tests

The effective use of tests in counseling depends on the choice of appropriate tests for the particular individual and problem under consideration, as well as the proper interpretation of test scores and their integration within the total assessment process. The knowledge needed for these purposes is discussed with reference to, first, statistical and technical knowledge about tests, and second, substantive psychological knowledge about the behavior domain that the tests assess. Because of the rapid accumulation of knowledge in both areas, counselors need to keep abreast of current developments through continuing efforts to update their knowledge.