Computer-based psychodiagnostics in family and education - Concepts and perspectives

Computer-based psychodiagnostics gained an increasing number of users - not only regarding the time won, but also the improvement in validity using ps ychodiagnostic methods. in the field of family and educational psychology s ome of these methods are available for diagnostics, therefore, a further in crease would be expected by using these new technologies. There are two gen eral perspectives coming with psychodiagnostics, as well as a different use of computers: the "field" and "lab" perspectives in psychodiagnostics. dis cussion refers to four opportunities computer use: the direct "provocation" of behavior presenting different stimuli, the investigation of cognitive r epresentations, the systematic surveillance of behavior under natural livin g conditions, and the use of supporting systems in decision-taking. It is n ecessary to reflect the possibilities in information science without loss o f responsibilities of diagnosticians for their decision-findings.