What type of interpretation focuses on how an examinee developed their characteristics?

Genetic interpretation is concerned with understanding the origins and development of an individual's characteristics over time. This type of interpretation analyzes how various factors—such as an individual's background, environment, experiences, and potentially even hereditary influences—have shaped who they are. It emphasizes the developmental aspects of the characteristics being assessed, allowing for a deep understanding of the formative processes involved.

In contrast, descriptive interpretation would typically focus on outlining the examinee's current characteristics without delving into how they were developed. Criterion-referenced assessments evaluate an individual's performance against a set standard or criterion, rather than exploring the development of their traits. Norm-referenced assessments compare an individual's performance to a broader population, focusing on ranking rather than the underlying development of their characteristics. Thus, genetic interpretation stands out as the approach specifically aimed at analyzing the developmental pathways of an individual's characteristics.