What are psychometric tests and what types are there?

Today it is not uncommon to hear that a psychotechnician has to pass us by, for example during a personnel selection process in a company. And it is not the only time that it will happen to us throughout our lives, being something more frequent and habitual than it may seem. But, What is a psychometric test and what does it seek to achieve? Is there more than one type of psychotechnician or are they all the same? In this article we will make a brief comment on these issues.

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What are psychometric tests?

Psychotechnical tests are understood to be a type of objective tests designed to evaluate objectively (without mediate in obtaining results the subjectivity of an evaluator) the intellectual capacities of one or more people. These are highly structured, voluntary response tests. controlled by the subject and in which the objective of the test is not masked (it being relatively easy to imagine what is being measured). The answers emitted by the analyzed subject will be treated as sincere and true, if Well, these are performance tests that would not benefit from attempts to vary the answers.

Most of these tests are of maximum performance, that is, they assess the maximum potential shown by a subject with respect to a skill or characteristic completed within a specified time limit. They usually assess general intelligence and aptitudes of the examined subject, and said assessment may have very different objectives depending on the case. In general, it seeks to verify the adequacy of the capacities of a person to the needs and elements required to access certain permits or positions, or simply evaluate if there is any alteration or difficulty in the adaptive functioning of the person.

It is common for them to be passed together with a personality test in order to evaluate not only the skills cognitive but also the way of being and the pattern of thought and habitual behavior of the person analyzed. Subsequently, after analyzing the information obtained by both types of tests, some kind of decision can be made. It must be borne in mind, however, that the tests themselves do not offer information beyond a score, which must be interpreted and analyzed based on the subject information that is available and the comparison with different scales or criteria.

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Types of psychometric tests

There are different types of psychometric tests, since not all of them are oriented to obtain information on the same aspects nor are they carried out with the same objectives. In this sense, some of the large groups in which we can classify them are the following.

1. Attention and concentration test

These tests assess the ability to remain attentive to a stimulus, maintain fixed attention to the appearance of a specific element or to realize changes in the appearance of alterations. Generally monotonous tasks are used in which it is easy to get bored and distracted or in which it is difficult to detect a different stimulus from the rest.

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2. reasoning test

Organize information, draw conclusions and find solutions quickly it is essential for many jobs and facilitates the general adaptation to the events that we face on a day-to-day basis. There are multiple ways to evaluate reasoning, some of which are problem solving, planning of action alternatives in hypothetical situations or the decision between two options and the justification of why. It is also common to have to look for relationships between different stimuli and solve matrices. Spatial, verbal, numerical, or mechanical reasoning may be included, in addition to abstract reasoning.

3. Spatial aptitude test

Distinguishing shapes and being able to navigate correctly through space is an aptitude that helps us orient ourselves and understand what is happening around us. In multiple jobs or when driving, having a certain level of this aptitude is essential. Different visuospatial tests are usually used, such as deciding what an object we see from another perspective will be like or keeping a point within certain margins.

4. verbal aptitude test

Communicating efficiently, knowing how to understand and express what other people think and think at high speed, is essential when dealing with other people. Vocabulary, lexicon, reading and writing speed, grammar and spelling These are some of the aspects examined in this type of test.

5. Numerical aptitude test

Making calculations is very useful in multiple jobs or in our day to day. numerical aptitude is generally examined from mathematical problems, rules of three or direct calculation (generally they are not excessively complicated unless you are opting for a since great competition is required in this sector, but rather the amount of successes and errors is measured in a period of time concrete).

6. Linked to executive functions

Working memory, decision-making capacity, response inhibition, planning and problem solving... all these capacities can be analyzed through different tests. Generally used in neuropsychological evaluation and clinical, although some can be adapted for other uses.

Areas in which they are applied

If most of us know what a psychometric test is, it is because at some point in our lives we have had one. In fact, nowadays they are very frequent in different contexts in which it is necessary to know the mental abilities of a specific person with a specific objective. Among the different possible contexts, some in which they are most frequent are the following.

1. Labor sphere

The area where we probably most often find ourselves in need of passing one of these tests. Companies usually have a series of requirements about the skills that their employees must meet, so that through passing these tests they can obtain a score in skills such as typing speed, verbal comprehension, vocabulary, numerical ability, the ability to solve problems or visuospatial abilities among others many. That is why they are part of most personnel selection processes (although the interview is usually more important).

2. educational field

Psychotechnicians are also often used in the educational field and in training, as a way of observing the abilities of students. They can be used to adjust the level and content to the student's abilities, see her level of development or Whether there have been improvements in the course of an educational program or even to establish selection criteria for acceptance in some universities or centers.

3. Clinical practice

Another area in which psychometric tests are used is in clinical practice, to assess the abilities and aptitudes of patients. This is very useful to assess, for example, the existence of alterations in patients with dementia or other disorders that can generate variations in mental abilities, or simply to assess the current capabilities of the patient.

4. Driving license

Driving a vehicle is a great responsibility. We are in control of a powerful and heavy machine that is about to enter the circulation and that must be handled with great care and skill to avoid causing or suffering accidents. That is why an evaluation of the future driver's skills is required before granting a permit, to observe their attention and concentration skills, visuoperceptive and visuospatial ability and the ability to reaction.

5. Gun license

Although much less frequent than the previous two, some people need to carry a firearm. This is the case of police officers, security guards and hunters. But a gun should not be given to just anyone, as they carry a great responsibility and a great danger to others if not used correctly. For this, different psychometric tests are usually used, among other tests, in order to decide whether or not the requirements are met to be able to have a weapons license.

Bibliographic references:

• Cohen, R.J. & Swerdlik, M.E. (2002). Psychological testing and evaluation. McGraw-Hill: Madrid.