ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of some of the principles, aims, and procedures involved in conducting various kinds of psychological assessments. It explores the commonality and importance of psychological assessment for clinical psychologists' work in addition to issues regarding the training of graduate students in assessment practices. The chapter introduces to what constitutes psychological assessment broadly as well as the specific aims and purposes of assessment and different types of psychological assessments used in research and clinical practice. It defines the kinds of issues related to clinical decision making that arise from psychological assessment and how the decisions can have an impact on people's lives. Clinical psychologists have access to large toolbox for the assessments of an individual's problems. Two major types of tools can be seen in psychological assessment: tests and techniques. Tests can be thought of as highly reliable and validated instruments that have been developed to measure specific aspects of a person's functioning.
