Psychometric Foundations in Psychological Assessment

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental psychometric concepts, measurement theories, reliability and validity types, and scoring methods used in psychological assessment as described in the provided academic text.

Psychological Assessment

A scientific discipline of psychology that involves the exploration and analysis of human behavior at various levels (motor, physiological, cognitive) using devices and techniques to facilitate decision-making.

Psychometrics

The set of methods, techniques, and theories involved in measuring psychological variables, providing models to transform facts into data by assigning numerical values to subjects based on their responses.

Classical Linear Model of Spearman

A statistical model expressed as $X = V + e$, where $X$ is the empirical score, $V$ is the true score, and $e$ is the measurement error.

Reliability (Confiabilidad)

The exactness or precision with which an instrument measures an object, often characterized by the absence of measurement errors.

Stability of the Measure

A form of reliability where results are consistent across multiple applications of the same instrument to the same subjects over time.

Internal Consistency

A form of reliability where the individual items composing an instrument are consistent with each other in evaluating the proposed psychological attribute.

Validity (Validez)

The degree to which a measurement instrument actually measures what it intends to measure, focusing on the utility and significance of the inferences derived from test scores.

Construct Validity

The validation of hypothetical traits or psychological qualities that a test measures, as well as the underlying theory upon which the trait rests.

Criterion Validity

The effectiveness of a test in predicting specific behaviors by comparing performance against a direct and independent external measure, which can be concurrent or predictive.

Content Validity

The degree to which a set of items represents a representative sample of a theoretical domain of knowledge, skills, or behaviors.

Objective Tests

Instruments providing clear comparison tables and measures where interpretation does not depend on the evaluator's subjective judgment.

Subjective Tests

Instruments where the interpretation of performance relies on the evaluator's judgment and the theoretical framework underlying the test.

Norm-referenced Tests

Evaluations where a subject's performance is compared against the performance of a group or population known as a normative group.

Criterion-referenced Tests

Evaluations where an individual is compared against a pre-determined, arbitrary, or theoretical benchmark rather than a population group.

Standard Scores (z-scores)

Scores derived from the normal curve where the mean is $0$ and the standard deviation is $1$, often transformed to a mean of $100$ and standard deviation of $15$ or $16$.

Decatypes

Scores derived from a planocurtic (flattened) normal distribution divided into $10$ parts, often used in personality tests like Cattell's 16PF.

Percentiles (Centiles)

Scores derived from an accumulated frequency distribution divided into $100$ equal parts, indicating the percentage of the group that an individual surpasses.

Selective Strategies

Approaches in psychological assessment that seek optimization by choosing the most suitable individuals for specific conditions or the best conditions for specific individuals.

Modifying Strategies

Assessment approaches, also called process diagnosis, that seek optimization by changing either the behaviors of individuals or the environmental conditions.

Psychological Evaluation Report

A formal document containing elements such as the motive for evaluation, clinical history, test battery results, interpretation, behavioral observations, and suggestions for intervention.