A report that only recounts documents: how to assess the limits of its conclusions

21 October 2026 · 2 min read

A psychological report may draw on different sources: an assessment involving the person, documents and other materials relevant to the task. When reading it, it is important to identify which data were obtained directly and which information was merely reproduced from the sources submitted.

Find the description of the object and examination methods

Check whether participants, dates, materials and methods used are identified. A list of method names without describing their application does not show which results were actually obtained. It is noted separately whether a direct assessment was conducted and how the task was formulated.

Distinguish participants' information from the specialist's results

A statement by a party to a conflict does not become an independent psychological finding merely by being included in a report. It is useful to trace how the author distinguishes participants' accounts, document contents and their own observations. Where sources contradict one another, the resulting limitations must be clear.

Compare the certainty of the conclusion with the amount of data

A confident formulation requires clear grounds. If a conclusion concerns a person who did not participate in the assessment, the ability to answer the question posed and expressly described limitations matter. Documentary analysis should not automatically be equated with a full assessment of everyone concerned.

What to prepare

The full report with all appendices.
The questions posed and the stated list of materials.
Information about the actual participation of the persons assessed.
Available records and results of the methods used.
Specific comments referring to document pages.

What to bear in mind

A single fragment cannot support a conclusion about the professional adequacy of the entire work. Analysis of data sufficiency does not constitute diagnosis of the parties to a dispute or replace an independent assessment.

Outcome of preliminary preparation

This approach to reading helps formulate specific questions for review: about sources, application of methods and whether the certainty of conclusions matches the data submitted.

Related material

APA: guidelines for forensic psychology

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Describe the task for preliminary assessment

At the first stage, a brief description and list of questions are sufficient. Do not send medical documents or information identifying children through this form; we will agree the full set separately.

judicial psychological examination;

pretrial psychologist's specialist opinion;

psychological and linguistic or family-related examination;

review of another expert's report.