Psychological Testing & Assessment (Cohen and Swerdlik)

psychological assessment

the gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation that is accomplished through the use of tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and specially designed apparatuses and measurement procedures.

psychological testing

the process of measuring psychology-related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior

testing

the objective is to typically obtain some gauge, usually numerical in nature, with regard to an ability or attribute

assessment

the objective is to typically answer a referral question, solve a problem or arrive at a decision through the use of tools of evaluation

Testing

• the process may be individual or group in nature

• the process focuses on the results of the processing

assessment

the process is typically individualized and focuses on how an individual processes rather than simply the results of that processing

testing

• in terms of the role of evaluator, the tester is not the key to the process

• one tester may be substituted for another tester

assessment

in terms of the role of evaluator, the assessor is the key to the process of selecting tests and other tools of evaluation, as well as drawing conclusions from entire evaluation

testing

in terms of the skill of evaluator, it typically requires technician-like skills in terms of administering and scoring a test as well as in interpreting the result

assessment

the skill of the evaluator typically requires an educated selection of tools of evaluation, skill in evaluation, and thoughtful organization and integration of data

testing

in terms of outcome, testing yields a test score or series of test scores

assessment

in terms of outcome,it entails a logical problem-solving approach that brings to bear many sources of data designed to shed light on a referral question

educational assessment

Refers to the use of tests and other tools to evaluate abilities and skills relevant to success or failure in a school or preschool context.

retrospective assessment

The use of evaluative tools to draw conclusions about psychological aspects of a person as they existed at some point in time prior to the assessment.

remote assessment

Refers to the use of tools of psychological evaluation to gather data and draw conclusions about a subject who is not in physical proximity to the person or people conducting the evaluation.

ecological momentary assessment

evaluation of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that arise "in the moment" in situations in which they occur in everyday life

1. referral for assessment

2. selecting the tools of assessment

3. formal assessment begins

4. writing a report of findings that is designed to answer the referral question

5. feedback sessions with the assessee or interested third parties may also be scheduled

state the process of assessment

dynamic assessment

• the interactive, changing, or varying nature of assessment

• interactive approach to psychological assessment that usually follows a model of evaluation, intervention, and evaluation

test

a measuring device or procedure

psychological test

refers to a device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology

score

a code or summary statement, usually but not necessarily numerical in nature, that reflects an evaluation of performance on a test, task, interview, or some other sample of behavior.

scoring

The process of assigning such evaluative codes or statements to performance on tests, tasks, interviews or other behavior samples

cut score

A reference point, usually numerical, derived by judgement and used to divide a set of data into two or more classifications.

psychometric soundness

The technical quality of a test or other tool of assessment

utility

usefulness or practical value of a test

interview

a type of psychological tool which involves taking note of both verbal and nonverbal behavior

portfolio

can be used as a tool of evaluation which involves a sample of one's ability and accomplishment

case history data

Refers to records, transcripts, and other accounts in written, pictorial, or other form that preserve archival information, official and informal accounts, and other data and items relevant to an assessee

behavioral observation

monitoring the actions of others or oneself by visual or electronic means while recording quantitative and/or qualitative information regarding those actions

role play test

a tool of assessment wherein assessees are directed to act as if they were in a particular situation

simple scoring report

A type of scoring report that provides only a listing of scores

extended scoring report

a type of scoring report that provides not only a listing of scores but statistical data as well

interpretive report

distinguished by its inclusion of numerical or narrative interpretive statements in the report

consultative report

This type of report, usually written language appropriate for communication between assessment professionals, may provide expert opinion concerning analysis of the data.

integrative report

employ previously collected data such as medication records or behavioral observation data into the test report.

1. simple scoring report (scores only)

2. extended scoring report (statistical analysis)

3. interpretive report (numerical or narrative statements)

4. consultative report (expert opinion on analysis)

5. integrative report (previously collected data)

5 common types of scoring reports

computer-assisted psychological assessment (CAPA)

refers to the assistance of computers provided to the TEST USER, not the testtakee

Q-Interactive

this technology allows test users to administer tests by means of 2 iPads connected by Bluetooth

computer adaptive testing

computer's ability to tailor the test to the ability of the test taker or his test taking pattern

test developer

they create tests or other methods of assessment

Test user

A person who participates in purchasing, administering, interpreting, or using the results of a psychological test.

testtaker

• the person who takes the test, is observed or interviewed, etc.

• the subject of an assessment

False

True or False?

Question: A deceased individual can no longer be considered as an assessee due to ethical considerations it imposes?

psychological

a reconstruction of a deceased individual's psychological profile on the basis of archival records, artifacts and interviews previously conducted with the deceased assessee or people who knew him or her

diagnosis

a description or conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and opinion

Diagnostic Tests

• Tests of specific skills used to identify students' needs and to guide instruction.

• tools of assessment used to help narrow down and identify areas of deficit to be targeted for intervention

protocol

form or sheet or booklet on which a testtaker's responses are entered

accommodation

depending on the nature of a testtaker's disability and other factors, this refers to the changes to be made in a psychological test in order for an evaluati

1. how responses are obtained

2. the form of test as presented to the testtaker

3. modification of interpersonal environment

common ways of accommodation made in a psychological testing

test manual

detailed information concerning the development of a particular test and technical information relating to it

James McKeen Cattell

coined the term mental test

Spearman

• concept of test reliability

• building the mathematical framework for the statistical technique of factor analysis

Emil Kraepelin

early experimenter with the word association technique as a formal test

Robert S. Woodworth

created Personal Data Sheet

culture specific tests

tests designed for use with people from one culture but not from another

affirmative action

refers to voluntary and mandatory efforts undertaken by federal, state, and local government, private employers and schools to combat discrimination and to promote equal opportunity for all in education and employment

standard of care

the level at which the average, reasonable, and prudent professional would provide diagnostic or therapeutic services under the same or similar conditions

minimum competency testing programs

formal testing programs designed to be used in decisions regarding various aspects of students' education

hint: MCTP

truth-in-testing legislation

provide testtakers with a means of learning the criteria by which they are being judged.

hint: TITL

reserve discrimination

practice of making distinctions in hiring, promotion, or other selection decisions that systematically tend to favor members of a minority group regardless of actual qualification for positions

disparate treatment

the consequence of an employer's hiring or promotion practice that was intentionally devised to yield some discriminatory result or outcome

Disparate Impact

• occurs when an employer creates a seemingly fair employment practice that has a negative impact on members of a protected class.

• employment practice that unintentionally resulted in a discriminatory outcome

Level A

Tests or aids that can adequately be administered, scored, and interpreted with the aid of the manual and a general orientation to the kind of institution or organization in which one is working (for instance, achievement or proficiency tests).

Level B

Tests or aids that require some technical knowledge of test construction and use and of supporting psychological and educational fields such as statistics, individual differences, psychology of adjustment, personnel psychology, and guidance (for example, aptitude tests, adjustment inventories applicable to normal populations).

Level C

Tests and aids that require substantial understanding of testing and supporting psychological fields, together with supervised experience in the use of these devices (for instance, projective tests, individual mental tests). Primarily psychologists.

the right to informed consent

What right of testtakers refers to:

Test takers have a right to know why they are being evaluated, how the test data will be used, and what (if any) information will be released to whom

the right to be informed of test findings

What right of testtakers refers to:

• Testtakers have a right to be informed, in language they can understand, of the nature of the findings with respect to a test they have taken. They are also entitled to know what recommendations are being made as a consequence of the test data.

• Giving realistic information about test performance to examinees is not only ethically and legally mandated but may be useful from a therapeutic perspective.

the right to privacy

recognizes the freedom of the individual to pick and choose for himself the time, circumstances and particularly the extent to which he wishes to share and withhold from others his attitudes, beliefs, behavior, and opinions

privileged information

information that is protected by law from disclosure in a legal proceeding

right to confidentiality

Information cannot be released publicly concerning individual participation

the right to the least stigmatizing label

The Standards advise that the least stigmatizing labels should always be assigned when reporting test results

Han Dynasty

the use of test batteries was quite common during this dynasty

Ming Dynasty

during this dynasty, a national multistage testing programs involved local and regional testing centers equipped with special testing booths

Charles Darwin

according to him, the best most adaptive characteristics survive at the expenses of those who are less fit and that the survivors pass their characteristics on to the next generation

Sir Francis Galton

according to him, individual differences exist in human sensory and motor functioning, such as reaction time, visual acuity, and physical strength

J.E. Herbart

mathematical models of the mind

E.H. Weber

attempted to demonstrate the existence of a psychological threshold, the minimum stimulus necessary to activate a sensory system.

Wilhelm Wundt

established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany

G.T. Fechner

devised the law that the strength of a sensation grows as the logarithm of the stimulus intensity

Whipple

provided the basis for immense changes in the field of testing by conducting a seminar at the Carnegie Institute in 1919

Robert Yerkes

headed a committee of distinguished psychologists who soon developed 2 structured group tests of human abilities: the Army Alpha and the Army Beta

Woodworth Personal Data Sheet

An early structured personality test that assumed that a test response can be taken at face value.

Rorschach inkblot test

a highly controversial projective test that provided an ambiguous stimulus (an inkblot) and asked the subject what it might be

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

projective test requiring examinees to tell a story in response to ambiguous pictures

factor analysis

a method of finding the minimum number of dimensions (characteristics, attributes), also called factors, to account for a large number of variables

J.R. Guilford

made the first serious attempt to use factor analytic techniques in the development of a structured personality test

sixteen personality factor questionnare

a structured personality test based on the statistical procedure of factor analysis

Raymond Cattell

proponent of the ff:

• intelligence: fluid & crystal intelligence

• personality testing: 16 Personality Factors (16PF personality test)

item

specific stimulus to which a person responds overtly

ability tests

contain items that can be scored in terms of speed, accuracy, or both

personality tests

are tests related to the overt and covert dispositions of an individual

measurement

act of assigning numbers or symbols to characteristics of things according to rules

scale

set of numbers whose properties model empirical properties of the objects to which the numbers are assigned

error

the collective influence of all of the factors on a test score or measurement beyond those specifically measured by the test or measurement

nominal scale

classification or categorization based on one or more distinguishing characteristics, where all things measured must be placed into mutually exclusive and exhaustive categories

ordinal scale

• a scale of data measurement that involves ordered categorical response

• permits classification

interval scale

a scale of measurement in which the intervals between numbers on the scale are all equal in size

ratio scale

measurement that has a natural, or absolute, zero and therefore allows the comparison of absolute magnitudes of the numbers

Distribution

a set of scores arrayed for a recording or study