Psychological Measurement, Self-Report Techniques, and Case Studies

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, historical milestones, testing types, self-report techniques, and case study methodologies from psychological assessment lectures.

Psychological Measurement

The process of quantifying an individual's mental processes, behaviors, personality traits, attitudes, and other psychological attributes.

Binet and Simon Intelligence Test

Developed in 1905, it was the first modern and successful psychological test created to measure IQ.

Army Alpha

A screening test created in 1917 under APA President Robert Yerkes designed for World War I recruits who could read and write.

Army Beta

A World War I screening test utilizing mazes, pictures, and symbols for recruits who could not read or were not fluent in English.

Personal Data Sheet

A group-administered personality test developed during World War I to detect neurotic tendencies among army recruits.

Army General Classification Test (AGCT)

A World War II benchmark group test chaired by Walter Bingham that evaluated verbal, quantitative, and spatial abilities to sort recruits into five administrative learning categories.

Psychological Testing

A standardized process of measuring psychology-related variables using specific tools or procedures designed to gather samples of behavior.

Psychological Assessment

A comprehensive process involving the integration of data collected through tests, interviews, case studies, and observations to make psychological evaluations.

Therapeutic Assessment

An assessment variety involving therapeutic components that aims to explore an individual's internal processes and contribute to intervention strategies.

Retrospective Assessment

An assessment involving the evaluation of past psychological states using available historical data or evaluations.

Remote Assessment

An assessment conducted without physical proximity between the assessor and assessee using online questionnaires, digital platforms, or interviews.

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

A research method involving repeated real-time data collection from participants in their natural environment to capture current experiences, behaviors, and moods as they occur.

Objective Tests

Tests featuring fixed response options and objective scoring, such as the MMPI, 16PF, and multiple-choice aptitude tests.

Subjective Tests

Tests requiring open-ended responses that are qualitatively interpreted by the examiner, such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) or Sentence Completion Test.

Speed Tests

Assessments designed to measure how quickly a person can perform simple tasks, such as Clerical Speed Tests or Digit Symbol Tests.

Power Tests

Assessments measuring the highest level of an individual's ability given sufficient time, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

DISHA

The Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act, which regulates the collection, storage, transmission, and security of digital health data.

Self-Report

A measurement method in which individuals provide subjective information disclosing their own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or attitudes.

Questionnaire

A set of written or digital open- or closed-ended questions designed to gather self-reported data from individuals on specific topics.

Survey

A broad research method involving purpose definition, questionnaire design, sample selection, data collection, and statistical analysis to uncover trends.

Structured Interview

An interview format with predetermined questions presented in a strict fixed order, often using closed-ended dichotomous or multiple-choice formats.

Semi-Structured Interview

An interview format guided by a predetermined thematic framework that allows flexibility in question phrasing, order, and follow-up depth.

Unstructured Interview

The most flexible interview format where questions and order are spontaneous and guided by participant responses.

Diary Method

A longitudinal research technique in which participants log their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in real time or near real time over days or weeks.

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency of participants to provide answers that are socially acceptable or present themselves favorably rather than being completely honest.

Case Study

An in-depth, intensive investigation of a single individual, organization, or event within its contemporary real-world context.

Triangulation

The practice of combining multiple sources of evidence (e.g., interviews, observations, documents) to corroborate facts, reduce bias, and increase credibility.

Exploratory Case Study

A case study designed to investigate a new or less understood phenomenon ("What could be happening?") to help formulate hypotheses for future research.

Descriptive Case Study

A case study focused on providing a rich, detailed narrative description of a phenomenon within its real-life context ("What is happening?").

Explanatory Case Study

A case study aimed at explaining the causal relationships and underlying principles behind a phenomenon ("Why and how is it happening?").

Multiple-Case Study

A case study design examining multiple cases simultaneously to compare differences, identify patterns, or replicate findings across contexts.

Intrinsic Case Study

A case study conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of a specific, unique individual case without aiming for generalization.

Linear-Analytic Structure

A standard scientific case study report format organized into Problem, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings, Discussion, and Conclusion.