Chapter 1 Flashcards
Who devised the first test of intelligence and when?
Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon, 1905
Define psychological test
An objective procedure for sampling and quantifying human behaviour to make inferences about a particular psychological construct or constructs using standardised stimuli and methods of administration
Who published the first Stanford-Binet test, and when?
Lewis Terman, 1916
Who developed the first self-report test of personality and when?
Robert Woodworth, 1917
Rorschach published ‘Psychodiagnostics’ when?
1921
When was the first version of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank was published when?
1927
When did Wechsler report an individual test of adult intelligence ?
1939
In 1942, which iconic personality test was published?
MMPI
In 1948, what change in terminology occurred?
The term ‘assessment’ replaced ‘mental testing’
When was computerised testing introduced?
1970
The origins of psychological testing can be found where?
In the public service examinations used by Chinese dynasties to select those who would work for them
Modern psychological testing was introduced roughly when in the USA?
Early 20th century
A major impetus to early psychological testing was what?
The need to select men for military service
Who is notes as the most key contributor to the initial development of modern psychological testing?
Binet
What was Binet asked to do by the Office of Public Instruction in Paris?
Devise a method of objectively determining which children would benefit from special education
Who proposed the notion of ‘mental age’?
Binet
Who devised the first theory of intelligence?
Spearman
According to Spearman, what was common to all tests of cognitive abilities?
g
Who was often seen as the chief critic of Spearman’s g?
Thurstone
Porteus’ initial tests of _____ and _____ involved what?
Comprehension; Foresight; Mazes
Porteus’ maze tests are still used today for what?
Assessing executive function, used by neuropsychologists
Yoakum and Yerks are noted for doing what?
Contributing the most convincing demonstration of group intelligence tests
The Army Alpha tested what? And the Beta?
Ability levels of those who could read and write; ability levels of those who were illiterate
Which Wechsler scales were based on the Army Alpha and Beta tests?
Verbal and Performance
Wechsler replaced the mental age scoring with what?
Deviation IQ
What does the Deviation IQ measure?
Compares the performance of the individual with that of his or her peers by dividing the difference between the individual’s score and the mean for the peer group by the standard deviation of scores for the peer group
What was the MMPI designed to do?
Discriminate between those without symptoms of mental illness and patient groups with particular diagnoses
What is empirical keying?
A method of producing items that discriminate between people with and without symptoms!
How many questions were on the MMPI
566
Describe an objective test
The method of scoring is straightforward for two or more scorers of the same test performance to agree closely on the final score
Projective tests were born out of which theory?
Psychodynamic
Who developed the TAT?
Henry Murray and Christina Morgan
The _____ and _____ represented the heyday for psychological testing
Late 1940s; 1950s
Name 3 of the major early criticisms of psychological testing?
- ‘invasion of privacy’
- homogenising effects on workforce
- racist
The major forms of psychological tests had been developed by when?
1950s
The 1960s and 1970s involved what with regard to psychological testing and assessment?
Legal battles and controversies
Which 2 challenges were notable in the 1980s and 1990s?
- cost containment in private and public sectors
- issues with tests being used to determine personal injury and compensation in courts
Name some factors that can influence human judgement in psychological testing
- bias
- stereotyping
- positive and negative halo effects
- errors of central tendency
All psychological tests have one thing in common, what is it?
They are tools that psychologists use to collect data about people
Who first used the term ‘mental test’ and when?
James McKeen Cattell, 1890
The distinction between tests as samples of behaviour or signs of an underlying disposition rest on what?
Theoretical differences about the causes of human behaviour
Interpretation of test performance is usually in terms of ____; where the test is used as a sign, is usually in terms of ____
Criterion referencing; norm referencing
What are the 5 characteristics of a psychological test?
- determine if it’s being used as a sign or a sample
- objective procedures
- results are summarised quantitatively in terms of a score(s)
- provides an objective reference point for evaluation
- must meet a number of criteria to be a useful information-gathering device
What is arguably the most defining characteristic of a test?
must meet a number of criteria to be a useful information-gathering device
Name some limitations of psychological testing
- psychological tests are only tools
- psychological tests are often used in an attempt to capture the effects of hypothetical constructs
- tests can become obsolete
- tests can disadvantage certain subgroups
The advantages of a psychological test outweigh its limitations. Discuss
Y
Some questionnaires look like psychological tests, but are not. Why are they not?
I don’t know
