ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND ASSESSMENT

Question 1

ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

AND ASSESSMENT

Answer 1

Psychological Traits and States Exist

Psychological Traits and States
Can Be Quantified and Measured

Test-Related Behavior Predicts Non-Test-Related Behavior

Tests and Other Measurement Techniques Have
Strengths and Weaknesses

Sources of Error Are Part
of the Assessment Process

Testing and Assessment Can Be Conducted
in a Fair and Unbiased Manner

Testing and Assessment Benefit Society

Question 2

Assumption 1: Psychological Traits and States Exist

Answer 2

…

Question 3

any distinguishable, relatively enduring way in which one
individual varies from another

based on
observing a sample of behavior

Answer 3

trait

Question 4

distinguish one person from

another but are relatively less enduring

Answer 4

States

Question 5

psychological traits that relate to

Answer 5

intelligence, specific intellectual abilities, cognitive style, adjustment, interests, attitudes,sexual orientation and preferences, psychopathology, personality in general, and specific
personality traits.

Question 6

psychological trait exists only as a ….

Answer 6

construct

Question 7

an informed, scientific concept

developed or constructed to describe or explain behavior.

Answer 7

construct

Question 8

an observable action or the product of an observable action, including test- or assessment-related
responses.

Answer 8

overt behavior

Question 9

a reminder that a trait is not

expected to be manifested in behavior 100% of the time

Answer 9

relatively enduring

Question 10

a way in which one individual varies from another.

Answer 10

trait and state

Question 11

Assumption 2: Psychological Traits

and States Can Be Quantified and Measured

Answer 11

…

Question 12

test score is presumed to represent the strength
of the targeted ability or trait or state and is frequently based on

assumption that the more the testtaker responds in a particular
direction as keyed by the test manual as correct or consistent with a particular trait, the higher
that testtaker is presumed to be on the targeted ability or trait

Answer 12

cumulative scoring

Question 13

word domain is substituted for world in this context.

refer to either (1) a sample of behaviors
from all possible behaviors that could conceivably be indicative of a particular construct or

(2) a sample of test
items from all possible items that could conceivably be used to measure a particular construct.

Answer 13

domain sampling

Question 14

Assumption 3: Test-Related Behavior

Predicts Non-Test-Related Behavior

Answer 14

objective of the

test is to provide some indication of other aspects of the examinee’s behavior

Question 15

psychological tests may be

used not to predict behavior but to

Answer 15

postdict

to aid in
the understanding of behavior that has already taken place.

Question 16

behavior samples may

Answer 16

shed light, under certain

circumstances, on someone’s state of mind in the past.

Question 17

tools of assessment great value in such an evaluation.

Answer 17

case history data or the defendant’s personal

diary during the period in question

Question 18

Assumption 4: Tests and Other Measurement

Techniques Have Strengths and Weaknesses

Answer 18

…

Question 19

Competent test users understand a great deal about the tests they use.

Answer 19

how a test was developed, the circumstances under which it is appropriate to
administer the test, how the test should be administered and to whom, and how the test results
should be interpreted.

understand and appreciate the limitations

how those limitations might be compensated for by data from other sources.

Question 20

how those limitations might be compensated for by data from other sources.

Answer 20

test users know the tests they use and are aware of the tests’ limitations

Question 21

Assumption 5: Various Sources of Error

Are Part of the Assessment Proces

Answer 21

…

Question 22

a long-standing assumption that factors other than what a test
attempts to measure will influence performance on the test.

Answer 22

error

Question 23

the component of a test score attributable

to sources other than the trait or ability measured.

Answer 23

error variance

Question 24

measurement professionals tend to view error as simply an element in the process of measurement, one for which any theory of measurement must surely account.

Answer 24

classical test theory

also variously referred to as true score theory

Question 25

the
assumption is made that each testtaker has a true score on a test that would be obtained but
for the action of measurement error.

Answer 25

true score theory

Question 26

Alternatives to CTT

Answer 26

IRT

item response theory

Question 27

Assumption 6: Testing and Assessment Can

Be Conducted in a Fair and Unbiased Manner

Answer 27

….

Question 28

one source of

fairness-related problems is…

Answer 28

test user who attempts to use a particular test with people
whose background and experience are different from the background and experience of people
for whom the test was intended.

Question 29

test fairness are more

political than psychometric

Answer 29

it is important to keep in mind
that tests are tools. And just like other, more familiar tools (hammers, and
so on), they can be used properly or improperly.

Question 30

Assumption 7: Testing and Assessment Benefit Society

Answer 30

….

Question 31

Considering the many critical decisions that are based on testing and assessment procedures,
we can readily appreciate the

Answer 31

the need for tests, especially good tests. And raises

one critically important question