CODE OF ETHICS IN TESTING

Competence

In order to administer and employ tests correctly, one has to be competent. According to Hogan ( Assessment Concepts and Methodology), A Psychologist must be familiar with the norms, validity and test construction and in terms of methodology, administration, scoring and technical characteristics.

Informed consent

This basically means that a subject ‘s participation in tests mut be voluntary. In order for it to be voluntary, a person must be informed in words they will understand exactly what they are agreeing to, before consenting to take part in the testing.

Knowledge

Any person who participates in a test has the right to know the results. Results should be easy to comprehend for the participants and above all they should know what the result means.

Confidentiality

Only under extreme conditions, confidentials be broken without consent. Otherwise, a psychologist should keep results and information gained from the testing completely confidential. The records should be safe and secure at all times unless consent is given by the test taker to have results released to another professional.

Test security

None of the secrets on how material is scored and interpreted is released to anyone.

Test construction and publication

lays an important role in the ethics code. Tests developers must maintain high standards in developing tests and refrain from making unwarranted claims of the quality of their products.

Automated scoring/interpretation systems

The advances in technology within the Psychology field have now created computer programs that can interpret the tests.

Unqualified people

They are not allowed to administer the test nor interpret the results. Psychologists have to take care to preserve the integrity of the tests and allow only trained professionals to assist them in their testing should they need assistance.

Test users qualifications

Test users have to have specific qualifications to order and administer tests. Standards established a three tier system to define test users credentials .

rapport

In test administration, “_____” refers to the examiner’s effort to arouse the test taker’s interests in the tests, elicit their cooperation, and encourage them to respond in a manner appropriate to the objectives of the test.

enumerate; clarify

In 1998, the Joint Committee on Testing Practices published a set of rights and responsibilities designed to “____ and ______ the expectations that test takers may reasonably have about the testing process.”