Testing and the whole notion of individual difference is something that psychology has embraced, investigated and developed throughout its history.

Broadly speaking psychological testing can be defined as the use of one or more standardized measurement instruments, devices, or procedures including the use of computerized psychological tests, to observe or record human behaviour.

This is a useful definition insofar as it highlights the main purpose of psychological testing i.e. to observe or record human behaviour, but what it does not do is differentiate between the two main types of testing, namely projective testing and psychometric testing. Two very different types of testing that you need to be aware of.

Projective testing

The best-known projective psychological test is the Rorschach inkblot test and it dates back to 1921. It