Considerations for a policy of best practices in the use of psychological tests in Chile

Several authors have mentioned that best practices in using tests require that the psychologist has solid training in the area, that the quality of the instruments is guaranteed, and that they are used ethically and rigorously. These aspects mainly challenge training for professional practice, research, and regulation. Developing skills for psychological assessment at the undergraduate level, along with psychometric research, has posed a major challenge in Chile, as has the concern for the adequate regulation of test use. This is an important issue, as the tests, in conjunction with other data, support decision-making in various areas of the specialized discipline of psychology, affecting many people’s lives. This paper briefly reviews the main international guidelines that ensure the appropriate use of tests and refers to these issues. Competent and qualified professionals must administer tests; there must be ongoing assessment of their psychometric quality through research into validity, reliability, and fairness testing; and there must be mechanisms in place to ensure rigor in the selection and administration of tests by psychologists. The importance and necessity of articulating these elements in creating a national policy that safeguards the rights of all test-takers is discussed.