Theory and Utility--key Themes in Evidence-based Assessment: Comment on the Special Section

Overview

Journal Psychol Assess

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2005 Nov 3

PMID 16262457

Citations 3

Authors

Richard M McFall

Affiliations

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Abstract

This article focuses on two key themes in the four featured reviews on evidence-based assessment. The first theme is the essential role of theory in psychological assessment. An overview of this complex, multilayered role is presented. The second theme is the need for a common metric with which to gauge the utility of specific psychological tests and measures for specific purposes. A metric from information theory is recommended. The implications of these themes for the four reviews and for the future of psychological assessment in general are discussed.

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