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Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 19005

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ramon Cladellas Pros

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Guest Editor

Department of Basic, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
Interests: learning assessment; technology use; teachers stress and adolescents

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Traditionally, evaluation systems relayed on psychometric procedures (tests), which are not ecological (are intrusive), and theoretically assume a standardization of the people who respond. They commonly dismiss the existing differences, both between people and measurement procedures, abstracting the underlying processes and the intervention objectives, while other psychological evaluation techniques focus on individual characteristics and the problem that is on course to be solved.

Tests are standardized measurement instruments, which assume that what is measured is common to all people. Differences exist only in its intensity, while psychological evaluation includes other instruments and data collection procedures that assume particular and alternative configurations, instead of only differences of degree. When responding to tests, one must choose among a series of predetermined options that do not reliably correspond to the targeted inner processes, thinking or behavior. Because of such an approach, the test response itself replaces the natural object that it pretended to measure, distorting its nature and its meaning.

It is increasingly common in modern research (and applied fields) to include innovative and non-intrusive psychological assessments, which measure subjects in a situated way, including the natural conditions in which behaviors or processes occur. By including individual and contextual characteristics, the results of the assessment provide an effective means for the optimization of emotional well-being and the minimization of health risks, either physical or mental, as well as an adjustment to the specificities of each person.

The greater complexity of situated psychological evaluation can be compensated with the use of new technologies and the computerization of psychological evaluation results, allowing the integration of different sources of information and rigorous access to forms of behavior that were beyond the scope of the traditional tests.

Based on these premises, for this Special Issue of IJERPH, we invite you to submit articles that present alternative, situated systems of psychological evaluation, in any specific field. Examples of research topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

- The evaluation of adolescents’ self-knowledge and their emotional well-being and mental health

- Criticisms to psychological evaluation based on standardized tests

- The evaluation of the vocational orientation of adolescents and its impact on their personal and professional well-being

- The evaluation of student learning and its impact on comprehension and understanding

- The relationship between evaluation procedures and anxiety

- The use of technology as a platform to improve assessment of psychological processes

- Evaluation of the quality of life

- Evaluation of well-being, pain and health.

Dr. Ramon Cladellas Pros
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Assessment
Test
Psychometrics
Teaching
Learning
Self-knowledge
Adolescence
Mental health
Wellbeing
Health

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of a Contextualized Measurement of Life Satisfaction: A Pilot Study on the Assessment of Progress in Eating Disorder Therapy

by Maria Aymerich, Antoni Castelló and Ramon Cladellas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114452 - 4 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1294

Abstract

Eating disorders strongly affect psychological distress and its perception. However, most of the existing instruments for assessing life satisfaction rely on a point-estimation method that is biased due to the circumstantial conditions around the time of assessment. The main goal of this study was to apply a different kind of instrument—the Life Satisfaction Chart—that situates the current state of life satisfaction in the context of personal history and describes the life stages through a graph. The assessment was applied to a sample of 29 adolescent women (average age of 17.88) who were enrolled in a clinical program to treat their eating disorders. The results showed that their estimation of their current life satisfaction was almost identical to the estimation provided by a therapist for those who were in therapy phases 1, 2, and 3 (of four), while patients’ point-estimation satisfaction showed statistically significant differences when compared with the situated estimations. In therapy phase 4, significant discrepancies were observed between the therapist’s perception and the patients’ perception, because the therapist focused only on eating disorder recovery, whilst the patients evaluated their lives under almost-normal conditions, taking into account further dimensions. The Life Satisfaction Chart is a new approach to life-satisfaction measurement that showed promising measurement and therapeutical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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16 pages, 1851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation Using Polar Coordinate of the Representation of Movement in the Drawings of Children Aged 5 to 8 Years

by Maria Luz Urraca-Martínez, Maria Teresa Anguera and Sylvia Sastre-Riba

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052844 - 1 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1440

Abstract

The progressive complexity of mental representation is the basis for changes in human cognitive development. Evaluation of its external manifestations as graphic representation in drawings could be an instrument to understand changes in cognitive development and representational complexity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the appearance and role of the indicators used by children to represent moving figures in their drawings. This allows us to know the continuum from its non-manifestation to full expression through the vectorial interrelationships of the graphic indicators in each of the ages studied. Participants were n = 240 children from 5 to 8 years old; their drawings of two moving figures were analyzed, applying the polar coordinate technique. Results show a map of interrelations among the graphical movement indicators and changes in the drawing elements in an increasing continuum of complexity and the roles conferred to figures sketched. The conclusion is that changes evaluated in drawings can interactively reflect mental representation, and they could promote its transformation. The applied transfer of the results to education is discussed, in order to optimize the representational complexity and cognitive development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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13 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Properties of the Urdu Translation of Berg Balance Scale in People with Parkinson’s Disease

by Muhammad Kashif, Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Ali Mohseni Bandpei, Syed Amir Gilani, Humaira Iram and Maryam Farooq

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042346 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7222

Abstract

Background: The most common assessment tool used in clinical settings to detect changes in balance performance is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Thus, the purpose of this study was to translate the BBS into Urdu and investigate the psychometric properties (acceptability, internal consistency reliability, interrater reliability, construct validity) for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Eighty patients of either gender with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, stages I–III on the modified Hoehn–Yahr (H&Y) scale, with intact cognition according to the Mini Mental Score Examination (MMSE) score (greater than or equal to 24) and independent of transfers, were included in this study. The BBS was translated according to international guidelines based on forward and backward translation processes. The test-retest reliability as well as intra- and inter-observer reliability was assessed by calculating the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). The internal consistency of the entire BBS score was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s α. The convergent validity was assessed by correlating the scale with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) parts II and III and the Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCS). The construct validity was assessed using a factor analysis. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 62.35 ± 5.74 in years (range: 60–87 years). The ICC for intra- and inter-observer reliability was 0.95 (p < 0.0001) and 0.99 (p < 0.001), respectively. Cronbach’s α was calculated as 0.81, which showed acceptable internal consistency of the Urdu version of the BBS. The test-retest reliability (ICC) of the Urdu version of the BBS was determined as 0.97 for the total score, and ranged from 0.66–0.95 for individual items. In terms of validity, the Urdu version of the BBS was correlated with the ABCS (in the positive direction) and UPDRS-II and III (in the negative direction) (r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = −0.68, p < 0.001, r = −0.78, p < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusion: The Urdu version of the BBS is a reliable and valid scale to be used in balance assessment of population diagnosed with PD with excellent psychometric properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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14 pages, 594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Initial Validation of the Korean Effort and Reward Scale (ERS-K) for Use in Sport Contexts

by InKyoung Park and YoungHo Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413396 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1642

Abstract

Background: Applying Siegrist’s (1996) effort-reward imbalance model to athletes, the current study aimed to develop a measure that can evaluate athletes’ effort and reward, and verify its reliability and validity. Methods: The survey was conducted on 530 athletes from universities in Seoul, South Korea. Among the collected data, 276 datasets were used for exploratory factor analysis, 200 for confirmatory factor analysis, and 30 for test-retest reliability analysis; data from surveys that were incomplete or incorrectly answered were excluded. The initial questionnaire was completed based on prior research, expert meetings, and evaluation by the evaluation group. The collected data were subjected to question analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, and criterion-related validity analysis. Result: Four factors of the construct of effort were extracted: training strengthening efforts, interpersonal efforts, nutrition management efforts, and cognitive psychology strengthening efforts. Additionally, three factors of the construct of reward were extracted: future stability, social support, and positive growth. Thus. the effort measurement tool was finalized with 14 questions from four factors, and the reward measurement tool was finalized with 14 questions from three factors, with all items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Conclusions: Siegrist’s efforts to measure job stress and athletes perceived efforts differed somewhat, but were found to be consistent with those reported for Australian occupational jockeys. In addition, athletes’ perceived rewards had similar results to those for Siegrist and Kathleen et al. studies. Based on this study, subsequent studies can more effectively determine whether the effort-reward imbalance model is applicable to athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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23 pages, 4088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Implicit Interests through an Unobtrusive Computer Task. Their Relations with Career Decision, Anxiety, and Personality Traits

by Antoni Castelló and Ramon Cladellas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12366; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312366 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2823

Abstract

Adolescence is a period where youngsters still do not know much about themselves. That makes some decisions, like those concerning vocational elections, a complicated issue that has important consequences for their life. The main goal of this piece of research is to measure implicit interests using a situated, unobtrusive computer tool (PrUnAs: Preferences Unobtrusive Assessment) as well as its connection with anxiety and personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, self-efficacy, optimism, consciousness, and openness. Sample: 304 16-year-old adolescents enrolled in the last course of compulsory education. Instruments: Computer programs were used to measure implicit interests, career preferences, and to self-descript personality traits; finally, the paper-and-pencil test Stai was applied to measure anxiety. Results: Concordance between implicit interests and explicit choices was less than 50%. The software developed for assessing implicit interests not only proved to be an efficient tool to make them arise but also a good predictor of anxiety. Conclusions: Implicit interests and explicit elections are not the same. The approach from implicit preferences is an important shift in the approximation to vocational guiding and to reduce youngsters’ indecision level. Beyond vocational choice, this information may improve the short- and long-term quality of life and mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review of the Current Measures of Theory of Mind in Adults with Schizophrenia

by Ya-Chin Yeh, Chung-Ying Lin, Ping-Chia Li, Chi-Fa Hung, Chun-Hua Cheng, Ming-Hui Kuo and Kuan-Lin Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 7172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137172 - 4 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3399

Abstract

Adults with schizophrenia usually have impairments in theory of mind (ToM), which subsequently cause them problems in social interaction. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to assess their ToM using adequate measures. This systematic review evaluated current ToM measures (or ToM tasks) for adults with schizophrenia and summarized their specific characteristics, including the concept and construct, administration, and psychometric properties. From a review of 117 articles, 13 types of ToM tasks were identified, and the findings from these articles were qualitatively synthesized. The results showed that ToM tasks are diverse in their presentation modalities, answer modes, strategies of controlling cognitive confounders, and scoring. Most tasks employ cognitive and affective dimensions and target a specific, single ToM concept. The present systematic review found that psychometric evidence supporting the ToM tasks, such as internal consistency, test–retest reliability, unidimensionality, and convergent, criterion, and ecological validities, is insufficient. Based on the results, we propose several principles for selecting appropriate ToM tasks in practice, e.g., selecting a task with multiple ToM concepts, or an exclusive ToM construct containing the cognitive and affective dimensions. Moreover, future studies are needed to provide more psychometric evidence on each type of ToM task applied in people with schizophrenia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Evaluation: Cutting Edge Assessment Procedures)

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