Psychological Assessment Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Psychological Assessment lecture notes.

Psychological Testing

The process of measuring psychology-related variables with standardized devices or procedures to obtain a sample of behaviour.

Psychological Assessment

The gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation to answer a referral question.

Psychometric Properties

Technical qualities that indicate a test’s reliability, validity, and overall soundness.

Psychometrician

A professional who uses, analyzes, and interprets psychological test data.

Test Item

A specific stimulus to which a person responds on a psychological test.

Test Format

The form, plan, structure, arrangement, and layout of a test’s items.

Administration Procedures

Standardized directions for giving a test, either individually or in groups.

Score

A code or summary statement—usually numerical—that reflects performance on a test.

Scoring

The process of assigning values to test responses.

Cut-Score

A reference point used to divide test results into two or more classifications.

Psychometric Soundness

Overall technical quality of a test, reflecting high reliability and validity.

Ability Test

A maximal-performance test designed to assess what a person can do.

Achievement Test

Measures previously learned knowledge or skills and relies heavily on content validity.

Aptitude Test

Assesses potential for learning or acquiring a specific skill and relies on predictive validity.

Intelligence

A person’s general capacity to solve problems, adapt, think abstractly, and learn from experience.

Typical Performance Test

Measures habitual thoughts, feelings, or behaviours; no right or wrong answers.

Personality Test

Instrument that assesses individual dispositions, traits, and preferences.

Structured Personality Test

Self-report inventory requiring selection among fixed responses.

Projective Personality Test

Uses ambiguous stimuli to elicit responses that reveal personality dynamics.

Speed Test

Contains easy items; score depends on how many items are answered within a time limit.

Power Test

Contains items of increasing difficulty with sufficient time to attempt all items.

Interest Inventory

Assesses likes, dislikes, and vocational orientation.

Values Inventory

Measures the importance a person places on various moral or cultural values.

Neuropsychological Test

Assesses cognitive functioning related to brain integrity.

Norm-Referenced Test

Compares an individual’s score to scores from a defined reference group.

Criterion-Referenced Test

Indicates where a test taker stands with respect to a specific performance standard or criterion.

Interview

A method of data collection based on direct, reciprocal communication.

Structured Interview

Interview with pre-prepared, standardized questions.

Unstructured Interview

Flexible interview that allows pursuing ideas in depth without preset questions.

Semi-Structured Interview

Has set questions but allows probing for additional information.

Non-Directive Interview

Lets the interviewee express feelings freely without fear of disapproval.

Mental Status Examination

Brief assessment that evaluates a patient’s current psychological functioning.

Intake Interview

Initial session to learn why a client seeks services and to explain procedures and fees.

Social Case History

Comprehensive biographical sketch compiled from records and interviews.

Employment Interview

Assesses applicant suitability for hiring.

Panel Interview

Interview conducted by more than one interviewer simultaneously.

Motivational Interview

Counselling technique that gathers information while encouraging behaviour change.

Portfolio

A collection of work samples demonstrating ability and accomplishments.

Case History Data

Archival records and documents relevant to an assessee’s life and behaviour.

Case Study

Narrative account compiled from case history data about a person or event.

Behavioral Observation

Systematic monitoring and recording of actions for qualitative or quantitative analysis.

Naturalistic Observation

Watching behaviour in its real-life setting without intervention.

SORC Model

Behavioural analysis framework: Stimulus, Organismic variables, Response, Consequence.

Role Play

Acting in a simulated situation to assess behavioural tendencies.

Role Play Test

Assessment in which examinees are instructed to behave as if in a specific scenario.

Test Battery

A set of tests measuring different variables but serving a common assessment goal.

Psychological Trait

A relatively enduring attribute that distinguishes one individual from another.

Psychological State

A transient condition that differentiates individuals but is less enduring than a trait.

Construct

An inferred, scientifically developed concept used to explain behaviour.

Overt Behavior

Observable action or its product, used as evidence of a construct.

Cumulative Scoring

Method in which endorsing more keyed responses indicates more of the trait.

Error Variance

Portion of test score variability attributable to factors other than the trait measured.

Classical Test Theory (CTT)

Model stating Observed Score = True Score + Error.

Reliability

Consistency or dependability of test scores over occasions, items, or raters.

Reliability Coefficient

Numerical index expressing the proportion of true score variance in observed scores.

True Score

Hypothetical, error-free score that perfectly reflects the trait being measured.

Measurement Error

Difference between an observed score and the true score due to random or systematic influences.

Item Sampling Error

Error arising from the content selected for a test or from differences among parallel forms.

Test–Retest Reliability

Correlation of scores from the same individuals on two administrations of the same test.

Carryover Effect

Influence of first test administration on performance in the second administration.

Practice Effect

Score improvement on retest due to familiarity with the test.

Parallel Forms Reliability

Correlation between scores on two equivalent versions of a test.

Counterbalancing

Administering test forms in different orders to control carryover effects.

Internal Consistency

Degree to which items within a test measure the same construct.

Homogeneity

Extent to which a test measures a single factor or trait.

Heterogeneity

Extent to which a test measures multiple factors.

KR-20

Internal consistency formula for tests with dichotomous items of unequal difficulty.

KR-21

Simplified internal consistency formula assuming equal item difficulty.

Cronbach’s Alpha

Internal consistency coefficient for tests with items scored in more than two categories.

Split-Half Reliability

Correlation between two halves of a single test to estimate internal consistency.

Spearman-Brown Formula

Adjustment that estimates reliability of a full test from two half-test correlation.

Inter-Scorer Reliability

Degree of agreement between two or more scorers of the same test.

Fleiss’ Kappa

Statistic for inter-rater agreement with two or more raters on categorical data.

Cohen’s Kappa

Measure of agreement between exactly two raters for categorical judgments.

Krippendorff’s Alpha

Inter-rater reliability coefficient applicable to any number of raters and scale types.

Restriction of Range

Reduction in score variability that lowers correlation and reliability estimates.

Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)

Index of expected inconsistency in an individual’s observed score.

Confidence Interval

Range within which a true score is likely to fall, given the SEM.

Standard Error of Estimate

Standard deviation of prediction errors in regression analysis.

Validity

Degree to which evidence and theory support the interpretations of test scores.

Face Validity

Extent to which a test appears to measure what it claims to measure.

Content Validity

Degree to which test items represent the construct’s entire domain.

Test Blueprint

Plan specifying content areas and number of items for each area in a test.

Construct Underrepresentation

Failure of a test to capture important aspects of the construct.

Construct-Irrelevant Variance

Score influence from factors unrelated to the construct being measured.

Criterion Validity

Extent to which test scores relate to an external criterion.

Concurrent Validity

Criterion validity evidence based on simultaneous measurement of test and criterion.

Predictive Validity

Criterion validity evidence based on how well test scores forecast future performance.

Incremental Validity

Amount of criterion variance explained by a new predictor beyond existing predictors.

Construct Validity

Judgment about how well test scores represent the intended construct.

Convergent Evidence

High correlations between the test and other measures of the same construct.

Discriminant Evidence

Low correlations between the test and measures of different constructs.

Method of Contrasted Groups

Validates a test by showing it differentiates between groups known to differ on the trait.

Factor Analysis

Statistical technique that identifies underlying variables (factors) explaining item correlations.

Factor Loading

Correlation between an item and a factor, indicating item’s contribution to that factor.

Cross-Validation

Re-assessment of test validity in a new sample to verify generalizability.

Validity Shrinkage

Decrease in validity coefficients when a test is cross-validated on a new sample.

Co-Validation

Simultaneous validation of multiple tests using the same sample.

Bias (in testing)

Systematic factor that prevents impartial, accurate measurement for certain groups.

Halo Effect

Rating bias in which a rater’s overall impression skews evaluations of specific traits.