Psychological Testing & Assessment – Comprehensive Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering foundational concepts, tools, statistics, reliability, validity, and test development in psychological testing and assessment.

Psychological Assessment

Gathering and integrating psychology-related data, using various tools, to answer a referral question, solve a problem, or reach a decision.

Psychological Testing

The process of measuring psychology-related variables with devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behaviour, usually yielding a numerical score.

Objective (of Assessment)

To answer a referral question, solve a problem, or make a decision through evaluation tools.

Objective (of Testing)

To obtain a gauge—usually numerical—of a psychology-related variable.

Collaborative Assessment

Assessment model in which assessor and assessee work as partners from initial contact through final feedback.

Therapeutic Assessment

An assessment approach that encourages self-discovery and new understandings throughout the process.

Dynamic Assessment

Evaluation–intervention–evaluation model that examines how an assessee benefits from intervention during assessment.

Psychological Test

Any device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology such as intelligence, personality, or attitudes.

Test Format

The form, plan, structure, or arrangement of test items—including time limits and mode of administration.

Score

A code or summary statement, usually numerical, reflecting performance on a test or other sample of behaviour.

Cut Score

A reference point, usually numerical, used to divide a set of scores into two or more classifications such as pass/fail.

Psychometrics

The science of psychological measurement concerned with the accuracy (validity) and consistency (reliability) of tests.

Utility (of a Test)

The practical value or usefulness a test has for a specific purpose.

Interview

A method of gathering information through direct, reciprocal communication, capturing verbal and non-verbal cues.

Panel Interview

An interview in which one interviewee is questioned by more than one interviewer.

Portfolio

A file of work products (e.g., papers, artwork, audio) used as a tool of assessment.

Case-History Data

Archival records, transcripts, and other documents preserving information relevant to an assessee’s past and present adjustment.

Case-History Study

A report using case-history data to illustrate how personality and environment interact, often focused on a single person or event.

Behavioural Observation

Monitoring others or oneself while systematically recording qualitative or quantitative information about actions.

Naturalistic Observation

Behavioural observation conducted in naturally occurring settings rather than labs to gather evaluation data.

Role-Play Test

Assessment tool in which assessees act out simulated situations to evaluate thoughts, behaviours, or skills.

Local Processing

On-site computerized scoring or interpretation of raw test data.

Central Processing

Computerized processing of test data transported to another location for scoring and interpretation.

Teleprocessing

Sending raw test data via modem/telephone lines to a central computer for processing.

Simple Score Report

Computer output that provides only a listing of test scores.

Extended Score Report

Computer output that lists scores plus statistical data (e.g., percentile ranks, profiles).

Interpretive Report

Computer-generated narrative explaining test performance, possibly descriptive, screening, or consultative in depth.

Consultative Report

An interpretive report offering expert, detailed analysis that mimics a human consultant’s work.

Integrative Report

Computer report combining data from behavioural, medical, administrative, and other sources into one interpretation.

CAPA (Computer-Assisted Psychological Assessment)

Computer assistance to test users in constructing, scoring, and interpreting psychometrically sound tests.

CAT (Computerized Adaptive Testing)

Interactive testing in which item selection adapts to the test taker’s performance on previous items.

Test Developer

Person or team who conceives, prepares, constructs, and disseminates psychological tests.

Test User

Individual who selects, administers, or interprets a psychological test for some purpose.

Test Taker

Anyone who is the subject of an assessment and completes a test or other evaluative procedure.

Psychological Autopsy

Post-mortem reconstruction of a deceased individual’s psychological profile using records and interviews.

Achievement Test

Instrument that evaluates the amount of learning or accomplishment in an academic area.

Diagnostic Test

Tool used to identify areas of deficit for targeted intervention, often in educational settings.

Informal Evaluation

Non-systematic, brief, and unofficial assessment leading to an opinion, not bound by professional standards.

Quality of Life (Assessment)

Evaluation of perceived stress, loneliness, satisfaction, living conditions, and social support, often in geriatric settings.

Protocol (Test)

Sheet or booklet on which a test taker’s responses are entered; also, a description of assessment procedures.

Rapport

The working relationship between examiner and examinee, fostering cooperation and valid results.

Accommodation (Testing)

Adaptation of a test or procedure to make assessment more suitable for an assessee with exceptional needs.

Alternate Assessment

Evaluation procedure that differs from the standard method, often employing special accommodations.

Test Catalogue

Publisher’s listing that provides brief descriptions of available tests.

Test Manual

Detailed publication containing administration, scoring, norms, reliability, validity, and interpretive data for a test.

Reference Volume

Comprehensive source that lists tests with detailed information on purpose, population, and administration time.

Ability Test

Assessment of skills such as achievement, aptitude, or intelligence.

Personality Test

Instrument measuring overt or covert dispositions, traits, motives, or psychopathology.

Objective Personality Test

Structured, typically self-report inventory requiring selection among fixed responses.

Projective Test

Assessment in which ambiguous stimuli elicit projection of personal needs, fears, or motivations.

Interest Test

Instrument that assesses preferences for activities, subjects, or occupations.

Culture

Socially transmitted behaviour patterns, beliefs, and products of a group of people.

Culture-Specific Test

Test designed for use with one cultural group but not necessarily valid for another.

Verbal Communication (Testing)

Spoken language used between examiner and examinee; differences may affect assessment outcomes.

Non-Verbal Communication (Testing)

Body language, eye contact, and other non-spoken cues relevant in assessment contexts.

Minimum Competency Testing

Formal programs using tests to make decisions about students’ educational progress (e.g., promotion, graduation).

Truth-in-Testing Legislation

State laws granting test takers access to information about test content and scoring criteria.

Daubert Ruling

U.S. Supreme Court decision assigning federal judges gatekeeper roles for admitting scientific testimony.

Test-User Qualifications (Levels A, B, C)

Guidelines specifying technical knowledge required to purchase and use different classes of tests.

Informed Consent (Testing)

Test taker’s right to know why they are being assessed, how data will be used, and who will see results.

Confidentiality

Ethical obligation to protect test data and communications from unauthorized disclosure.

Least Stigmatizing Label

Guideline advising that test results be reported with terminology that minimizes stigma.

Measurement

Assigning numbers or symbols to characteristics according to rules.

Scale

Set of numbers whose properties model empirical attributes of measured objects.

Continuous Scale

Interval or ratio scale allowing any value within a range; entails measurement error.

Discrete Scale

Nominal or ordinal scale measuring attributes that take on distinct categories.

Magnitude (Scale Property)

Indicates more-than, less-than, or equal amounts of an attribute.

Equal Intervals

Property where differences between scale points are consistent across the scale.

Absolute Zero

True point where nothing of the measured attribute exists; rare in psychological scales.

Nominal Scale

Classification into categories without order (e.g., male/female).

Ordinal Scale

Rank ordering without equal distance between ranks (e.g., class standings).

Interval Scale

Ordered scale with equal intervals but no true zero (e.g., Celsius temperature).

Ratio Scale

Scale with equal intervals and a true zero point (e.g., reaction time).

Frequency Distribution

Table or graph showing how often each score occurs in a dataset.

Histogram

Bar graph of a frequency distribution with adjoining rectangles representing score intervals.

Percentile

Score at or below which a given percentage of scores in a distribution falls.

Stanine

Standard score scale ranging from 1 to 9 with a mean of 5 and SD of 2.

Z-Score

Standard score indicating how many SDs a raw score is above or below the mean.

T-Score

Standard score with mean 50 and SD 10; eliminates negative values.

Skewness

Degree to which a distribution departs from symmetry (positive or negative).

Kurtosis

Steepness or flatness of a distribution’s peak (leptokurtic, platykurtic, mesokurtic).

Correlation Coefficient (r)

Statistic expressing linear relationship between two continuous variables, ranging –1 to +1.

Pearson r

Product-moment correlation coefficient used for linear relationships between continuous variables.

Coefficient of Determination (r²)

Proportion of variance shared by two variables.

Regression

Statistical technique for predicting scores on one variable from another.

Standard Error of Estimate

Average distance between observed scores and scores predicted by a regression line.

Reliability

Consistency or dependability of measurement; proportion of true score variance in observed scores.

Classical Test Theory (CTT)

Model where observed score (X) equals true score (T) plus error (E).

Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)

Estimate of how much an observed score deviates from an individual’s true score due to error.

Test–Retest Reliability

Correlation of scores from the same test given to the same group on two occasions.

Parallel-Forms Reliability

Correlation between two equivalent forms of a test measuring the same attribute.

Split-Half Reliability

Internal consistency estimate obtained by correlating two halves of a single test administration.

Kuder–Richardson 20 (KR-20)

Internal consistency coefficient for tests with dichotomous items.

Cronbach’s Alpha

General internal consistency coefficient for items scored in more than two categories.

Inter-Scorer Reliability

Degree of agreement between two or more scorers of the same test.

Validity

Extent to which evidence supports the intended interpretation and use of test scores.

Content Validity

How adequately test items sample the construct or domain they are intended to measure.

Criterion-Related Validity

Degree to which test scores relate to external criteria (concurrent or predictive).

Concurrent Validity

Relationship between test scores and criterion measures obtained at the same time.

Predictive Validity

Extent to which test scores forecast future performance on a criterion.