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What is an assessment instrument?

An assessment instrument in psychology refers to any standardized tool, test, or procedure used to evaluate a specific psychological construct (such as intelligence, language, or motor skills). These instruments allow professionals to collect objective and reliable information to guide diagnosis, intervention, or early stimulation programs.

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•Every instrument must meet these features:

•Validity – Measures what it is supposed to measure.

•Reliability – Produces consistent results over time and across evaluators.

•Standardization – Administered and scored under uniform procedures.

•Relevance – Appropriate for the purpose and population assessed.

•Sensitivity – Detects small but meaningful differences in development or ability.

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By Area

•Cognitive

•Motor

•Language

•Socio-emotional

•Adaptive behavior

By Type

•Standardized tests

•Developmental scales

•Observational tools

•Checklists/questionnaires

•Clinical interviews

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Card 1

Name: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III)

Area assessed: Cognitive, motor, and language development

Target population: 1 to 42 months (infants and toddlers)

Description: Standardized developmental scale that measures early cognitive, language, and motor milestones.

Example of use: In early stimulation programs to detect developmental delays and design individualized intervention plans.

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Card 2

Name: Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3)

Area assessed: Communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, personal-social

Target population: 1 to 66 months

Description: Parent-completed screening questionnaire that tracks developmental progress.

Example of use: Used in child psychology clinics to involve parents in monitoring development and deciding if further evaluation is needed.

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American Psychological Association. (2020). APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/assessment

Bayley, N. (2006). Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

Squires, J., Twombly, E., Bricker, D., & Potter, L. (2009). Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.