Test Administration Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to test administration, stereotype threat, expectancy effects, and other factors influencing test performance.

Examiner and Subject Relationship

The effect on test scores due to the examiner's behavior and relationship with the test-taker.

Examiner Behavior Impact

Using friendly conversation and verbal reinforcement can increase scores; using disapproving comments decreases scores.

Familiarity Effect

Increased familiarity with the examiner generally increases scores.

Stereotype Threat

The phenomenon where test-takers from stereotyped groups may experience extra pressure to disconfirm negative stereotypes, potentially inhibiting their test performance.

Testing Environment Cues

Cues about the testing environment that exacerbate fears and anxieties of test takers.

Cognitive Processes Under Threat

People who are threatened may focus attention on themselves rather than the test task, overattend to the threat, and deplete working memory.

Self-Handicapping

Test-takers reduce their level of effort when faced with the expectation that they may not perform well, to protect self-worth.

Remedies for Stereotype Threat

Moving demographic questions (age, race, sex) to the end of the test to avoid triggering stereotype threat.

Non-Diagnostic Test Instruction

Telling test-takers that they are completing a non-diagnostic test can sometimes reduce the amount of threat.

Growth Mindset

Promoting a growth mindset can eliminate the idea that some groups possess a fixed trait that cannot be changed

Language Proficiency

The validity and reliability of tests are in question for those who do not speak the test language proficiently.

External Validity

Concerns the use of research findings in groups other than those who participated in the original validation studies

Projective Tests

Registered psychologists are the only ones trained to administer these types of tests.

Expectancy Effects

Beliefs held by people administering and scoring tests might translate into inaccurate test scores

Rosenthal Effect

High expectations lead to improved performance, while low expectations lead to poor performance.

Effects of Reinforcing Responses

Testers should always administer tests under controlled conditions because it affects behavior.

Praising the Process

Results in better performance than praising the person.

Test Manual Instructions

Test manuals should clearly spell out the directions for administration including the exact words to be read to the test-takers.

Mode of Administration

Even though it has only small effects in most situations, it should be constant within any evaluation of patients.

Test Anxiety

Difficulty focusing attention on the test items and being distracted by other thoughts.