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Interpretation of Results

Interpretation of standardised test results are crucial in the assessment process. Similar to selection and administration of test battery, anyone who score and interpret the test results should be a qualified or a supervised person who has undergone formal training in interpretation.  He or she needs to have vast knowledge of strengths and limitations of the particular test battery in use, background variables of clients, clinical presentations of client population, theoretical perspectives for assessment and interpretation, be able to analyse and evaluate test scores according to protocol etc. Interpreting tests results without such knowledge would violate the ethics code established for the profession of psychology (APA, 2010). In addition, psychologists are expected to:

• Analyse and evaluate the test scores according to the test battery’s prescribed protocol and in relation to the psychometric properties and strengths and limitations of the test battery.

• Integrate the test results with other assessment data such as clinical interviews, behaviour observations etc to determine the congruence of test results by comparing and contrasting for discrepancies, patterns and themes to answer the referral question.

• Formulate hypotheses of integrated assessment results considering the theoretical perspectives for assessment and clinical knowledge of client population, and make objective judgment of behavioural explanations based on evidence and sound reasoning.

• Ascertain the implications of integrated assessment results for diagnosis, placement, and intervention

Here are some ideas and resources to spark your learning and thinking: 

Essential Series

Essentials of Psychological Assessment Series – Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

This series of books provide guidance on how to administer, score, and interpret the major psychological tests (e.g., WISC-IV, WPPSI,-III WAIS-IV, Bayley-II) and assessment related skills (e.g., Essentials of Assessment Report Writing, Cross-Battery Assessment). See more here.

For example, in terms of interpretation of results, Essentials of WISC-IV Assessment, 2nd Edition (Flanagan & Kaufman, 2009) covers:

• Interpretation of FSIQ and index scores (Chapter 4)

• How to determine strengths and weakness of person in the index profile (Chapter 4)

• Possible hypotheses for observed differences in composite clusters (Chapter 4)

• Suggestions for interventions based on hypotheses (Chapter 4)

• Interpretation considerations when assessing for giftedness, specific learning disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse populations (Chapter 6).

Flanagan, D. P., & Kaufman, A. S. (2009). Essentials of WISC-IV Assessment Second Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.