Computer-assisted testing is not without its problems and pitfalls, but it holds a great deal of promise as well. Computer administration of tests provides more control over the testing process than was ever possible with paper-and-pencil testing. At the same time it offers the possibility of being able to monitor and record aspects of the testing…

Neuropsychology combines psychometrics and the study of brain processes. There are two approaches to neuropsychology. The neurologic approach uses brief tests flexibly. The psychometric approach uses standardized graded scales in a set battery. Cortical testing in the form of intellectual abilities testing is 70 years old, yet psychometric…

Many approaches to the assessment of psychopathology in children have been governed by the conception of the prepubescent child as being unable or unwilling to recognize and report on his or her own behavior. Behavior of interest to the evaluator is perceived as being particularly difficult to obtain. This conception of the child's abilities is…

The specificity doctrine, holds that psychometric tests measure nothing other than the specific bits of knowledge and learned skills reflected in the item content of the tests. This prevailing doctrine has influenced the interpretation of test scores and the conceptualization of test validity, as well as the practical use of tests in educational…

The premise that there are no valid and reliable psychological tests for use with Indochinese refugees is discussed. The history of the use of tests in the United States has been promulgated as being beneficial to the minority group members exposed to them without revealing their underlying discriminatory uses. Only the System of Multicultural…

This paper assesses the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on preemployment psychological testing. The paper discusses rules and related guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and relevant case law under the Rehabilitation Act. EEOC rulings clarify the scope of what is intended to be included in the…

Rather than focus on the numerous flaws in the book "The Bell Curve" (Herrnstein & Murray), this discussion focuses on the racism and bigoted beliefs of the pioneers in the mental measurement movement in the United States--beliefs which provided the background and opportunity for the publication of the book. A significant amount of…

This essay shows that the adoption of intelligence tests by the schools was a complex development. Tests were adopted during the 1920s as part of the reform program fashioned by the network of applied psychologists and school people. While the network itself often viewed testing as a means to improve the schools and society, immigrants and blacks…

Cognitive aging research needs to clarify whether or not there are functional or ability declines with aging and, if so, to understand and mediate these declines. Recent research which has demonstrated declines in cognitive functioning with age has involved episodic memory and rehearsal-independent forms of such memory. It is not known how much of…

An overview is presented of current issues in the assessment of gifted and talented persons, with an emphasis on generalizable and universal talents and the operational methods used in their identification. The Chinese were seeking out talented individuals through formal identification procedures as early as 2200 BC. In the Western world, the use…

The psychological testing of blacks and other minorities inflicts dehumanization upon them by subjecting them to culturally-biased examinations. These tests are defended on "scientific" grounds, although it is evident that they are simply a form of institutionalized racism. Standardized tests of intelligence reflect a middle-class white bias that…

This paper discusses the impact of emerging developmental skills on preschoolers' test performance in reference to preoperational thinking, behavioral controls, and language skills. It is emphasized that some behaviors that occur during the preschool period may suggest pathology when observed in older children but are normal for preschoolers. A…

Delay of gratification, or the ability to endure self-imposed barriers to achieve particular goals, was tested through a series of surveys given to 151 white undergraduates in an introductory psychology course at a university in the southwestern United States. The study examined the multidimensionality of delay of gratification and was concerned…

The standardized IQ tests which are in use in the schools are scientifically and pedagogically without merit. The construct "intelligence" is a hypothetical notion whose valid expression has yet to be born. IQ tests and the construct of intelligence can be discarded at present, and teaching strategies would be unaffected. To successful teachers…

This manuscript presents a chronological interview recently conducted with Dr. C.H. Patterson, a pioneer in the area of person-centered counseling and counselor education. It details many of the serendipitous events that led him from a child of poverty to a life rich in academic achievements and social rewards. This interview details many of his…