title: Theory and utility--key themes in evidence-based assessment: comment on the special section.
abstract: This article focuses on two key themes in the four featured reviews on evidence-based assessment. The first theme is the essential role of theory in psychological assessment. An overview of this complex, multilayered role is presented. The second theme is the need for a common metric with which to gauge the utility of specific psychological tests and measures for specific purposes. A metric from information theory is recommended. The implications of these themes for the four reviews and for the future of psychological assessment in general are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-1301, USA. mcfall@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McFall
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011582:Psychological Theory