What Have Surveys Taught Us About the Teaching and Practice of Psychological Assessment?

Abstract

In efforts to gather information about training in and the practice of psychological assessment, numerous surveys of practicing psychologists, training program directors, and internship training directors have been conducted. In this article, I briefly review all survey studies about psychological assessment that have appeared in the last 30 years (1960 through early 1990). The major findings of all the surveys are summarized in 14 points, and discussion of several of the points is provided. Of most significance, the surveys collectively attest to (a) the remarkable stability of psychologists' assessment practices over the past 3 decades; (b) the ever-consistent, ever-continuing significance of the assessment role in psychological training and practice; and (c) the resilient, enduring nature of projective techniques in psychodiagnostic assessment.