Psychological evaluation is defined as a way of testing people about their behavior, personality, and capabilities to draw

conclusions using combinations of techniques.[1] Over the years, it has developed from unethical methods of locking
people up for tests to the many different strategies seen today. We currently see evaluation being used in several different
settings for multiple purposes, such as education or legal situations. The purpose behind many modern psychological
evaluations is to try to pinpoint what is happening in someone's psychological life that may be inhibiting their ability to
behave or feel in more appropriate or constructive ways. It is the mental equivalent of physical examination. It is important
to use psychological evaluation properly otherwise violations of the professional ethical code can occur, resulting in harm
to the client and invalid assessment results. There is also a risk of evaluation based upon unscientific principles, as found
in pop psychology, or pseudopsychology.
Formal psychological evaluation consists of standardized batteries of tests and highly structured clinician-run interviews,
while informal evaluation takes on a completely different tone. In informal evaluation, assessments are based
on unstructured, free-flowing interviews or observations that allow both the patient and the clinician to guide the content.
Both of these methods have their pros and cons. A highly unstructured interview and informal observations provide key
findings about the patient that are both efficient and effective. A potential issue with an unstructured, informal approach is
the clinician may overlook certain areas of functioning or not notice them at all. [4] Or they might focus too much on
presenting complaints. The highly structured interview, although very precise, can cause the clinician to make the mistake
of focusing a specific answer to a specific question without considering the response in terms of a broader scope or life
context.[4] They may fail to recognize how the patient's answers all fit together, they lose the forest through the trees.
There are many ways that the issues associated with the interview process can be mitigated. The benefits to more formal
standardized evaluation types such as batteries and tests are many. First, they measure a large number of characteristics
simultaneously. These include personality, cognitive, and/or neuropsychological characteristics. Second, these tests
provide empirically quantified information. The obvious benefit to this is that we can more precisely measure patient
characteristics as compared to any kind of structured or unstructured interview. Third, all of these tests have a
standardized way of being scored and being administered.[4] Each patient is presented a standardized stimulus that serves
as a benchmark that can be used to determine their characteristics. These types of tests eliminate any possibility of bias
and produce results that could be harmful to the patient and cause legal and ethical issues. Fourth, tests are normed. This
means that patients can be assessed not only based on their comparison to a "normal" individual, but how they compare
to the rest of their peers who may have the same psychological issues that they face. Normed tests allow the clinician to
make a more individualized assessment of the patient. Fifth, standardized tests that we commonly use today are both
valid and reliable.[4] We know what specific score mean, how reliable they are, and how the results will affect the patient.
The Evaluation Process
Interviews and Testing
Based on the reason for referral and needs of the client, our staff will then develop an individually tailored
battery of tests that provide a high quality and comprehensive assessment. A full psychological
evaluation typically includes an in-depth clinical interview in addition to tests of ability/intelligence,
academic achievement tests, personality tests, behavior rating scales, and various scales assessing
psychopathology. Typically a full evaluation can range from 6 to 8 hours and is often completed over a
period of two visits. Information from this evaluation provides a broad view of psychological functioning,
which consists of intellectual and academic strengths and weaknesses, personality patterns, and various
psychological diagnoses.
Psychological/Psychoeducational Report
Upon completion of testing, a complete psychological report is written where results of the evaluation are
reported and explained. This in-depth report contains background information, test scores and
interpretations, personality/behavioral functioning, and a summary with recommendations. This report is
typically completed about two to four weeks following the final testing session. At this point, the client will
be contacted to come to the Institute to receive the report and go over the results in an informing
conference.
Informing Conference
The final step in the evaluation process is the informing conference. The informing conference is held with
the client, or clients parents if the evaluation is for a child. During this conference, the evaluating clinician

and Director of the Center for Psychological Evaluation will discuss the results of the evaluation, answer
questions, and provide appropriate recommendations and referrals.