Abstract This examines the facts and circumstances surrounding the use of psychological testing known as thematic apperception test (TAT). It looks at how TAT testing uses a series of cards designed to interpret the inner feelings and unconscious thoughts of a patient and how interpretation of the TAT requires a solid understanding of the social and cultural aspects of a patient by a trained therapist. It also attempts to show how TAT can be used effectively in both health and educational settings.
From the Paper "In order to treat a patient effectively the therapist must have a good knowledge of the individual and their thought pattern and inner feelings. Many of the tests used for personality testing that are available are excellent measures but often times the therapists would benefit from the knowledge of the unconscious or inner thoughts and feelings of their patient. ""Personality is defined as "a dynamic organization, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create the person's characteristic patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings""(Bettencourt, 2006). In order to obtain this knowledge and uncover the inner feelings and characteristics of the personality Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) can be administered. For the purpose of this paper we will examine the history, method, purpose, precautions and educational uses of the Thematic Apperception Test, which will be referred to as the TAT. "
Abstract This paper examines some of the major forms of standardized testing used in the United States today and assesses them for both fairness and validity.
Contents:
Introduction;
An Overview of Testing and Some Basic Definitions;
History of Standardized Psychological Testing;
Functions of Tests and Testing;
Typology of Current Tests;
The Key to Psychological and IQ Tests: Who Interprets Them;
Conclusion: Do Any of These Tests Do What They Promise
From the Paper "The usefulness of psychological tests depends on their accuracy in predicting behavior. By providing information about the probability of a person's responses or performance, tests aid in making a variety of decisions. One of the sustained criticisms of psychological tests is how well in fact they are able to do precisely this ? predict future behavior. Many tests have the word "aptitude" in their titles to reassure us that they are in fact not simply testing the subject on how much he or she knows, what his or her mental state is at present, or what his or her experiences have been to date. And it is certainly true that to some extent tests do have a predictive value ? although of course the validity of this predictive value varies widely from test to test. But it is also true that one of the most important aspects of human nature (or the human psyche or human intelligence) is that we are capable of learning and changing. How much each one of us is capable of changing has remained a difficult aspect of human behavior to assess. And whether the particular circumstances that might cause someone to change will come about remain in the realm of crystal ball gazing (Nash 119)."
Abstract The paper introduces and defines Agnosia as a rare perceptual disorder of the brain whereby the person is unable to recognize and identify objects or persons whose characteristics are known to him. The paper shows several different types of Agnosia and explains the treatment offered to sufferers of the disorder. Finally, it explains the theory behind the treatment by a specialist in the field, Stephen Kosslyn, who conducted experiments and tests on sufferers.
From the Paper "He conducted experiments that showed how images act as functional representations with real-life spatial characteristics. His experiments indicated that it takes time for images to represent metric distance and that this property affects real-time processing of images. Using a test whereby the experiment subjects imagined to the point of overflow, the result showed that images also have spatial aspects. The same result pointed to the high correlation between the size of the visualized or imagined object and the distance. Moreover, it revealed that it took the experiment subjects longer time to visualize the properties of subjectively smaller images."
Tags: temporo-parieto-occipital, point, apperceptive, pictorialism
Abstract This paper discusses how visual agnosia is a disorder where people can see objects, but are unable to recognize them. It looks at how agnosia it not a disease, but a disorder that arises as the result of neurological conditions such as strokes, dementia, or developmental disorders. It also examines how, because agnosia has several different causes, successful treatment relies upon correct diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disorder.
From the Paper ""The way in which messages are relayed from the eyes to the brain is not as straightforward as one might think." (Humphreys and Riddoch, 8). The visual pathway itself is complex. For example, objects recognized with one eye are perceived on the opposite side of the brain. However, visual agnosia is not associated with a problem in the actual visual pathway. Instead, agnosia is believed to reflect a problem in the later stages of sensory processing, "beyond the level of basic sensory mechanisms such as vision and acuity." (Rosello). Furthermore, visual agnosia is not always technically a perception problem; the patients can typically perceive and describe the physical details of a visual stimuli, but are unable to match that description to something held in memory. "
