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Walter Scott Newsom, PhD. Licensed Psychologist |
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HomeContactInformationAssociates Services: Wellness Programs Child Protection and Parent Evaluations
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Psychological Evaluations are used for many purposes. When people think about the psychological make up of a person they often think about personality characteristics or mental illness. While these are two important aspects of psychological functioning, there are many other psychological aspects of human functioning. One of the most important is intellectual functioning. Others include perception, memory, learning, emotional functioning, interpersonal functioning, functional abilities, vocational interests and aptitudes and so on. Psychological evaluations are used in many settings including schools, human resources, legal proceedings, counseling and treatment, rehabilitation and medical.Some people see Psychology as an art, others see it as a science. In reality, it is some of both. Psychological evaluations are more on the scientific end of the spectrum. The tests and procedures used are standardized and usually require many years of research before being put into use by practicing psychologists.When used in legal settings, tests and procedures used have to conform to rules of evidence for the venue in which the proceedings are taking place. These rules may vary depending on the state where one is practicing or the court in which one practices. However, they generally follow the rules stated in Federal Rule of Evidence # 703. In a nutshell, this means that they should be scientifically sound and relevant to the legal question at hand.A little philosophy: Psychology and the Law are similar in that both require objective evidence as the basis for decision making. This emphasis on requiring evidence is one of the primary foundations of modern society and embodies the rejection of superstition and other unverifiable sources of authority. |
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