MULTI-METHOD, MULTI-SOURCE, AND MULTI-SETTING ASSESSMENTS

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Psychological assessment – also known as testing or evaluation — is a scientific and objective method for a licensed psychologist to gather information about one’s cognitive functioning, abilities, and emotions. An assessment may range from very targeted and specific, to quite broad and encompassing. 

And although specific goals of the referral source may vary,  the purpose of the psychological evaluation is generally to provide deeper understanding of one’s unique profile of cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral strengths and weaknesses, often after concerns have been observed or brought to attention.   

A comprehensive evaluation should be based on a collection of data that is “multimethod, multi-source, and multi-setting.”  This means the person being assessed needs to be understood within the context of the many settings of their lives – at home, school, and in their community. Information from various  people – the sources —  who know the client is also important. Finally, comprehensive psychological assessment should incorporate a number of different methods to collect data; that is – we need to use various types of tests and measures because each may take a unique approach to look at various aspects of functioning.