Ven - Psychological Assessment

Exploratory Work

Research involving two groups of testtakers.

Good Items

Items that effectively discriminate between groups.

Pilot Work

Preliminary research for test prototype creation.

Test Items

Elements evaluated for inclusion in final tests.

Targeted Construct

Specific knowledge or skill being measured.

Test Construction

Process of creating tests for publication.

Scaling

Rules for assigning numbers in measurement.

Absolute Scaling

Measure of item difficulty across varied abilities.

Types of Scales

Instruments measuring traits, states, or abilities.

Age-Based Scale

Performance based on testtaker's age.

Grade-Based Scale

Performance based on testtaker's grade.

Stanine Scale

Scores ranging from 1 to 9.

Unidimensional Test

Only one dimension underlies ratings.

Multidimensional Test

Multiple dimensions guide testtaker responses.

Comparative Test

Judgments based on comparisons between stimuli.

Categorical Test

Stimuli placed into distinct categories.

Rating Scale

Judgments indicated by testtakers on a scale.

Summative Scale

Final score by summing ratings across items.

Likert Scale

Five to seven response options on a continuum.

Paired Comparisons

Selecting preferred stimuli from presented pairs.

Guttman Scale

Items range from weaker to stronger expressions.

Scalogram Analysis

Graphic mapping of testtaker responses.

Equal-Appearing Intervals

Thurstone's method for interval data collection.

Item Pool

Reservoir of items for test development.

Multiple-Choice Format

Test items with stem and distractors.

Matching Item

Pairs premises with corresponding responses.

Binary-Choice Item

Requires true/false response from testtaker.

Constructed-Response Format

Testtakers create answers instead of selecting.

Completion Item

Fill in the blank type of test.

Short-Answer Item

Requires brief identification responses.

Essay Item

Long-form response demonstrating knowledge depth.

Item Bank

Accessible collection of test questions.

Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)

Test adapts based on previous responses.

Item Branching

Tailoring content based on prior answers.

Cumulative Model

Higher scores indicate higher ability levels.

Class Scoring

Credit toward placement in response categories.

Ipsative Scoring

Comparing scores within the same test.

Test Tryout

Testing on similar subjects for validity.

Item-Difficulty Index

Proportion of correct responses to an item.

Optimal Item Difficulty

Ideal difficulty around 0.5 for discrimination.

Item-Reliability Index

Indicates internal consistency of a test.

Item-Validity Index

Measures how well a test measures its purpose.

Item-Discrimination Index

Separates high and low scorers on tests.

Item-Characteristic Curves

Graph of item difficulty and discrimination.

Guessing Correction

Adjustments made for random guessing effects.

Item Fairness

Degree of bias in test items.

Speed Tests

Tests yielding misleading results due to time.

Qualitative Item Analysis

Nonstatistical exploration of item effectiveness.

Expert Panels

Review for fairness and bias in items.

Test Revision Approaches

Evaluating items for strengths and weaknesses.

Cross-Validation

Revalidation on a different test sample.

Co-Validation

Validation of multiple tests on the same sample.

Expectancy Effects

Expectations influencing test performance.

Stereotype Threat

Pressure affecting performance due to group identity.

Interview

Method for gathering data about individuals.

Structured Interview

Prepared questions guide the interview process.

Unstructured Interview

Flexible, open-ended questioning format.

Reciprocal Nature of Interviewing

Mutual influence between interviewer and interviewee.

Social Facilitation

Behavior influenced by surrounding models.

Effective Responses

Maintaining interaction flow in interviews.

Open-Ended Questions

Allow interviewees to express freely.

Transitional Phrases

Encourage interviewee to continue speaking.

Clarification

Ensures understanding of interviewee's responses.

Understanding Responses

Capture meaning and feeling of communication.

Testtaker Groups

Two groups: mastered vs. not mastered skills.

Construct Measurement

Determining how to measure targeted constructs.

Computerized Adaptive Testing

Items based on testtaker's previous performance.

Item Characteristic Curves

Graphical representation of item difficulty and discrimination.

Test Revision

Updating tests to maintain relevance and effectiveness.

Reinforcing Responses

Effects of praise on test performance.

Language of the Examiner

Language proficiency affects test validity and reliability.

Training of Test Administrators

Different tests require varying levels of training.

State of the Subject

Test anxiety impacts focus and performance.

Interview Techniques

Methods for gathering data through structured or unstructured interviews.

Level-Three Responses

Minimum empathetic response to interviewee's statement.

Paraphrasing

Restating interviewee's words in different terms.

Verbatim Feedback

Exact repetition of interviewee's statements.

Clarification Statements

Requests for further explanation from interviewee.

Restatements

Rephrasing interviewee's ideas for understanding.

Level-Four Responses

Adds 'noticeably' to interviewee's response for depth.

Level-Five Responses

Adds 'significantly' to enhance interviewee's response.

Active Listening

Key skill for effective interviewing and understanding.

Mental Status Examination

Evaluates neurological or emotional health issues.

Interviewee's Emotions

Assessment of emotional state during the interview.

Thought Processes

Analysis of how interviewee organizes their thoughts.

Intelligence Evaluation

Assessed through speed, accuracy, and content richness.

Quality of Thought Processes

Analyzed via thought content and clarity.

Attention Deployment

Ability to focus and manage attention effectively.

Sources of Error

Factors affecting accuracy in interview judgments.

Halo Effect

Bias based on overall impression of interviewee.

General Standoutishness

Judgment based on a single outstanding trait.

Cultural Distortion

Misinterpretation due to cultural ignorance.

Structured Interviews

Effective method to reduce bias in evaluations.

Interview Validity

Accuracy of judgments based on interview data.

Interview Reliability

Consistency of results across different interviews.

Inter-Interviewer Agreement

Consistency between multiple interviewers' evaluations.

Tentative Interview Data

Consider interview results as hypotheses needing confirmation.

Standardized Procedures

Methods that support interview data for evaluation.

Interview Data Limitations

Reliability affected by interviewee's honesty and memory.

Francis Galton

Pioneer in studying heritability of intelligence.