Chapter 1-intro

Question 1

Test definition

Answer 1

Measurement device or technique used to quantify behavior or aid in the understanding and prediction of behavior.
- E.g. spelling test - measures how well someone spells/extent to which someone has learned how to spell

Question 2

A test measures only a ______ of behavior.

Answer 2

SAMPLE
-> Error is always associated with a sampling process!

Question 3

Item def

Answer 3

Specific stimulus to which a person responds overtly. (i.e. specific questions or problems that make up a test).
-> This response can be scored/evaluated (e.g., classified, graded on a scale, or counted).

Question 4

Because psychological and educational tests are made up of ______, the data they produce are ______ and hence subject to scientific inquiry.

Answer 4

items, explicit

Question 5

Psychological (or educational) test def

Answer 5

A standardized tool/instrument designed to measure a specific psychological attribute like personality traits, intelligence, or mental health status.

Question 6

Overt behavior def

Answer 6

Individual’s observable activity

Question 7

Covert behavior def

Answer 7

Takes place within an individual and cannot be directly observed (e.g. feelings/thoughts)

Question 8

Scores on tests may be related to ______ or _______.

Answer 8

traits, state

Question 9

Trait def

Answer 9

Enduring characteristics/tendencies to respond in a certain manner

Question 10

State def

Answer 10

Specific condition or status of an individual

Question 11

The meaning of the scores can change dramatically, depending on how a well-defined sample of individuals scores on a test.
How do psychologists deal with such problems?

Answer 11

Psychologists make use of scales, which relate raw scores on test items to some defined theoretical or empirical distribution

Question 12

Individual test def

Answer 12

Test that can be given to only one person at a time.

Question 13

Group test def

Answer 13

Can be administered to more than one person at a time by a single examiner
- E.g. when an instructor gives everyone in the class a test at the same time.

Question 14

Test administrator (or examiner) def

Answer 14

Person giving the test

Question 15

One can also categorize tests according to the _______________ they measure.

Answer 15

type of behavior

Question 16

2 main categories of tests

Answer 16

Ability tests vs Personality tests

Question 17

Ability test def

Answer 17

Measure skills in terms of speed, accuracy, or both.
=> The faster or the more accurate your responses, the better your scores on a particular characteristic.

Question 18

What are the 3 types of ability tests?

Answer 18

Achievement, Aptitude and Intelligence tests

Question 19

Achievement test def

Answer 19

Measures previous learning.
- E.g. A test that measures or evaluates how many words you can spell correctly is called a spelling achievement test.

Question 20

Aptitude test def

Answer 20

Measures potential for acquiring a specific skill.
- A spelling aptitude test measures how many words you might be able to spell given a certain amount of training, education, and experience.

Question 21

Intelligence test def

Answer 21

Measures potential to solve problems, adapt to changing circumstances, and profit from experience.

Question 22

In view of the considerable overlap of achievement, aptitude, and intelligence tests, all three concepts are encompassed by the term________.

Answer 22

human ability

Question 23

Personality test def

Answer 23

Measure TYPICAL behavior - traits, temperament, and dispositions.
- E.g. Remaining isolated from others, for instance, does not require any special skill or ability, but some people typically prefer or tend to remain thus isolated.

Question 24

Types of personality tests

Answer 24

Structured (objective) and Projective tests

Question 25

Structured personality tests def

Answer 25

Provides a self-report statement which require the subject to choose between two or more alternative responses such as “True” or “False”; “Yes” or “No”.

Question 26

Projective personality tests def

Answer 26

Either the stimulus (test materials) or the required response—or both—are ambiguous, unclear.
- E.g. Rorschach test (inkblot)

Question 27

Projective tests assume that ________________________________ will reflect his or her unique characteristics.

Answer 27

a person’s interpretation of an ambiguous stimulus

Question 28

Psychological testing def

Answer 28

Refers to all the possible uses, applications, and underlying concepts of psychological and educational tests.

Question 29

Main use of psychological tests

Answer 29

Evaluate INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES or variations among individuals.

Question 30

Reliability def

Answer 30

Degree to which test scores are FREE OF MEASUREMENT ERRORS.
-> There are many ways a test can be reliable (e.g., test results may be reliable over time).

Question 31

Validity def

Answer 31

Degree to which a certain inference or interpretation based on a test is appropriate.
-> “What does this psychological test measure?”

Question 32

Psychological test def

Answer 32

A standardized tool/instrument designed to measure a specific psychological attribute. Measurement instrument.
E.g. personality traits, intelligence, or mental health status.

Question 33

A psychological test must be (3)

Answer 33

(1) Objective: reflect reality - not what we want reality to be
(2) Reliable: provide us with the same reading anytime, use instrument under the same conditions
(3) Valid: measure what we want to measure

Question 34

How do Psychological Tests differ from Other Measurement Tools? (2)

Answer 34

(1) Focus on intangible, theoretical CONSTRUCTS (e.g. psychological attributes) unlike tools measuring physical properties (e.g. rules, scales).
(2) For most of them, you need to have some SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE for proper interpretation unlike physical measurements (e.g. ruler).

Question 35

Construct def

Answer 35

Unobservable, theoretical abstract concept. Measured indirectly through behaviours, responses or test results
E.g. intelligence, anxiety, self-esteem

Question 36

Defining Characteristics of Psychological Tests (5)

Answer 36

(1) Representative SAMPLE behaviors
(2) OBSERVABLE and MEASURABLE actions
(3) Thought to measure a PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTE
(4) Behavioral samples obtained under STANDARDIZED conditions
(5) Have results for SCORING.

Question 36

A construct is hypothesized to explain _________________________________

Answer 36

the covariation between observed behaviors

Question 37

Similarity between psychological tests

Answer 37

All require a person to perform a behavior.

Question 38

Differences between psychological tests (6)

Answer 38

(1) Behavior performed
(2) Construct measured and outcome predicted
(3) Content
(4) Administration and format
(5) Scoring and interpretation
(6) Psychometric quality

Question 39

Kinds of Purposes for Testing (4)

Answer 39

(1) Classification
(2) Promoting Self- Understanding and Self-Improvement
(3) Planning, Evaluation and Modification of Treatments and Programs
(4) Scientific Inquiry

Question 40

Kinds of Purposes for Testing: Classification

Answer 40

Classifying people in categories.
-> Diagnosis
-> Selection (e.g. selecting people for certain jobs)
Huge implications.

Question 41

Example of a test promoting Self- Understanding and Self-Improvement

Answer 41

Holland’s Vocational Preference Inventory

Question 42

Kinds of Purposes for Testing: Scientific Inquiry

Answer 42

Quantification & Hypothesis testing + Reducing Type II error (noise in data)