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Psychological Testing Policy

Test Users

For their part, the test user shall endeavour to:

1. Treat test takers with courtesy, respect and impartiality regardless of race, age, gender, disability, etc.

2. Use only tests that are endorsed by Careers Scotland and deemed appropriate for the test takers and appropriate for the assessment purpose.

3. Inform test takers prior to testing about the purpose of the assessment, the nature of the test, to whom results will be reported and the planned use of results.

4. Give advanced notice of when the test will be administered, and when results will be available, and whether or not test takers or others may obtain copies of the test, their completed answer sheets, or their scores.

5. Have a trained person administer the test and have the results interpreted by a qualified person.

6. Ensure test takers know that the test is optional.

7. Ensure test takers know that they shall have their results explained to them as soon as possible after taking the test in easily understood terms.

8. Ensure that test takers understand that their results are confidential to the extent allowed by law and best practice.

9. Inform test takers who shall have access to their results, and the conditions which scores shall be released.

10. Ensure that groups of no more than six are tested at each testing session, unless there is evidence that it is beneficial to do otherwise.

11. Use tests only when their use can be supported by available technical information.

12. Administer, score and interpret tests in accordance with the instructions provided by the test distributor and to the standards defined by the British Psychological Society.

13. Keep test results securely, in a form suitable for developing norms, validation, and monitoring for bias.

14. Store test materials securely and to ensure that no unqualified person has access to them.

15. Ensure test takers are aware of the procedures for making complaints or notifying problems.

16. Give adequate warning where financial charges are to be applied

Appendix A:

The British Psychological Society’s Code of Good Practice

Responsibility for Competence

People who use psychological tests for assessment are expected by The British Psychological Society to:

1. Take steps to ensure that they are able to meet all the standards of competence defined by the Society for the relevant Certificate(s) of Competence in Psychological Testing, and to endeavour, where possible, to develop and enhance their competence as test users.

2. Monitor the limits of their competence in psychometric testing and not to offer services which lie outside their competence nor encourage or cause others to do so.

Procedures and Techniques

3. Only use tests in conjunction with other assessment methods and only when their use can be supported by the available technical information.

4. Administer, score and interpret tests in accordance with the instructions provided by the test distributor and to the standards defined by the Society.

5. Store test materials securely and to ensure that no unqualified person has access to them.

6. Keep test results securely, in a form suitable for developing norms, validation, and monitoring for bias.

Client Welfare

7. Obtain the informed consent of potential test takers, or, where appropriate their legitimate representatives, making sure that they understand why the tests will be used, what will be done with their results and who will be provided with access to them.

8. Ensure that all test takers are well informed and well prepared for the test session, and that all have had access to practice or familiarisation materials where appropriate.

9. Give due consideration to factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, disability and special needs, educational background and level of ability in using and interpreting the results of tests.

10. Provide the test taker and other authorised persons with feedback about the results in a form which makes clear the implications of the results, is clear and in a style appropriate to their level of understanding.

11. Ensure that confidentiality is respected and that test results are stored securely, are not accessible to unauthorised or unqualified persons and are not used for any purposes other than those agreed with the test taker.