PSYC 320 Exam #1 Vocab

Psychological Testing

Measuring psychology-related variables using a test/procedure

Psychological Assessment

Gathering + integrating psychological information to answer a question or make a decision

Psychological Test

A device/procedure used to measure psychological variables

Psychometrics

The science of psychological measurement

Psychometric Soundness

How consistently and accurately a test measures what it claims to measure

Cut Score

A numerical point used to divide people into categories, such as pass/fail

Interview

Direct communication used to gather information

Rapport

A working relationship between the examiner and examinee

Behavioral Observation

Monitoring and recording someone’s behavior

Case History Data

Records and background information about the person being assessed

Portfolio

A collection of someone’s work used to show abilities/accomplishments

Role-Play Test

Having someone act out a situation to evaluate skills

Educational Assessment

Evaluates abilities/skills related to school

Retrospective Assessment

Looks at someone’s psychological state in the past

Remote Assessment

Assessment when the person isn’t physically present

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

Evaluates behavior/thoughts as they occur in real life

Collaborative Assessment

Assessor and assessee work as partners

Therapeutic Assessment

Assessment is part of therapy

Dynamic Assessment

Evaluation → intervention → re-evaluation

]Computer-Assisted Psychological Assessment (CAPA)

Computers/Software assist with administration, scoring, and interpretation

Local Processing

Test scoring happens on-site

Central Processing

Test scoring happens at a central location

Accommodations

Changes made to a test/procedure to meet the needs of someone with a disability

Alternate Assessment

Used for individuals with disabling conditions when appropriate

Mental Test

Term coined by James McKeen Cattell in 1890

Culture

Socially transmitted behaviors, beliefs, and products of a group

Culture-specific

Test designed for one particular cultural group

Culture-fair

Test designed to reduce cultural influence on scores

Culture-free

A test supposedly free from cultural influence; the lecture describes this as a myth

Individualism

Emphasis on autonomy, independence, and self-reliance

Collectivism

Emphasis on cooperation, conformity, and interdependence

Disparate Impact

A facially neutral test disproportionately screens out a protected group

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Enforces employment-related protections

Frye Standard

Scientific evidence must have general acceptance

Daubert Standard

Judges evaluate the scientific validity/admissibility of expert evidence

Informed Consent

Test-taker understands the purpose, use of data, and relevant rights before agreeing

Competency

Ability to understand and make an informed decision about participation

Confidentiality

Protecting test-taker information from inapproprite disclosure

Privilege

Legal protection of certain information shared with a professional

Least stigmatizing label

Using language that avoids unnecessarily stigmatizing the test-taker