You've probably seen websites offering free psychological tests or tests that you pay for. Are these tests accurate? Who wrote them? Is it ethical to just stick a test on the net and let people take it?
These are important questions, and frequently the answers are not available on the sites where the tests are located.
Psychological assessment is largely done by psychologists. In the United States, psychologists are trained according to the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association (APA). The section on psychological evaluation raises questions about some of the tests on the net. A brief excerpt follows:
2.01 (a) Psychologists perform evaluations, diagnostic services, or interventions only within the context of a defined professional relationship.
(b) Psychologists' assessments, recommendations, reports, and psychological diagnostic or evaluative statements are based on information and techniques (including personal interviews of the individual when appropriate) sufficient to provide appropriate substantiation for their findings.
2.02 (b) Psychologists refrain from misuse of assessment techniques, interventions, results, and interpretations and take reasonable steps to prevent others from misusing the information these techniques provide. This includes refraining from releasing raw test results or raw data to persons, other than to patients or clients as appropriate, who are not qualified to use such information.(American Psychological Association, 1995)
Psychology.com once offered some tests (for a fee) which appeared to meet these criteria. The professional relationship was clearly defined and feedback was given.
Other sites are not as clear. Queendom.com offers a variety of tests. Some are researched and validated, while others are "for fun." Be sure you know which type you are taking. This is a Canadian site and the site's developer is not a licensed psychologist. It may not be fair to hold the world to the APA's standards. Take care here, though.
Other sections of the APA's ethics restrict most tests to persons who are qualified to use them. New England Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry published the The Mini Mental State Examination on the web. This appeared to be a violation of the APA ethics, but this test is developed by a psychiatrist (an M.D.), rather than a psychologist (a Ph.D or Psy.D.). The test is no longer available Online, but it can be ordered by professionals through PAR.
The bottom line....be careful. If you take a test on the net, consider the source. If the results don't seem accurate, they probably aren't. You usually know yourself better than a test does - if you are being honest.
Last updated 5/07/06
