Chapter 1 - What is a Psychological Test? Flashcards

1
Q

All tests require a person to perform some

A

behaviour

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2
Q

What is the definition of behaviour?

A

an observable and measurable action

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3
Q

Unobservable personal traits or characteristics that we can’t directly see but believe are important for understanding human behaviour are also known as…

A

A psychological construct

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4
Q

Test scores can be used to:

A

Make important decisions about individuals which can affect you and those around you

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5
Q

An inference is when you…

A

use evidence to reach a conclusion

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6
Q

Because we can’t measure a psychological construct, we must…

A

make inferences from the behaviour we observe

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7
Q

What is a psychological test?

A

a measurement technique that requires a person to perform one or more behaviors in order to make inferences about human characteristics or predict future outcomes

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8
Q

How do psychological tests differ in terms of behaviour performed?

A

Vary in the behaviours they require. Test takers perform different tasks to observe behaviours related to the test’s purpose.
EX: In a driving test, behaviours such as changing lanes, making turns, and parking are assessed.

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9
Q

How do psychological tests differ in terms of constructs measured and outcomes predicted?

A

what a test measures or predicts can vary—each test is tailored to measure specific constructs which can lead to different outcomes
EX: a driving test requires individuals to perform various driving behaviours to measure the construct of driving ability

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10
Q

How can psychological tests differ in content?

A

Tests measuring the same construct may involve different behaviours or questions based on how the construct is defined
EX: One intelligence test may define intelligence as reasoning ability and another may define it as emotional intelligence

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11
Q

What are some ways psychological tests can differ in administration and format?

A

Tests can be given in various formats which can impact the testing experience and the type of information gathered about the individual
EX. MC questions, open-ended

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12
Q

How do psychological tests differ in scoring and interpretation?

A

Tests can differ in terms of how they are scored and interpreted which can influence how results are conveyed and understood

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13
Q

How do psychological tests differ in psychometric quality?

A

Some tests are well-designed, accurately measuring what they claim to measure and other tests may be poorly designed and fail to measure their intended constructs

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14
Q

What do good tests have the bad tests don’t?

A
  1. Evidence of validity (measure what they claim to measure)
  2. Evidence of reliability (measure consistently over time)
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15
Q

What is the field of psychology concerned with the quantitative and technical aspects of testing

A

Psychometrics

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16
Q

The first use of psychological testing dates back to…

A

Ancient China’s Xia Dynasty

17
Q

Who was the first person to introduce the term “mental test”

A

Francis Galton

18
Q

Who introduced the first psychological laboratory?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

19
Q

Sir Francis Galton & James Cattell
developed a “mental test” to assess and measure….

A

college students strength, resistance to pain, and reaction time

20
Q

Who developed the first mental ability test and what was its purpose?

A

Alfred Binet & Theodore Simon developed the Binet-Simon Scale
- the purpose of the test was to identify intellectually subnormal individuals
- He introduced the concept of “mental age”

21
Q

What did Lewis Terman produce?

A

Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales which was an adaptation of Binet’s original test—it added the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Index
- Mental age / Chronological age x 100 = IQ

22
Q

Why did David Wechsler develop the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)?

A

He believed intelligence was based on an individual’s ability to act purposefully, think logically, and interact and cope successfully with the environment
- Current version WAIS-5

23
Q

Who created Personal Data Sheet (PDS) and what for?

A

Robert Woodworth to classify incoming army recruits but was never implemented

24
Q

What test was the first self-report test?

A

Woodworth Psychoneurotic Inventory by Robert Woodworth

25
Q

What is the Rorschach inkblot test designed to do?

A

identify personality disorders and assess mental functioning

26
Q

What are the three defining characteristics of psychological tests?

A
  1. All good tests representatively sample the behaviours thought to measure an attribute or thought to predict an outcome
  2. All good tests include behaviour samples that are obtained under standardized conditions.
  3. All good tests have rules for scoring
27
Q

What are the six assumptions of psychological tests?

A
  1. Psychological tests measure what they purport to measure or
    predict what they are intended to predict (test validity).
  2. An individual’s behavior, and therefore test scores, will typically
    remain stable over time (test-retest reliability).
  3. Individuals understand test items the same way.
  4. Individuals will report accurately about themselves.
  5. Individuals will report honestly their thoughts and feelings.
  6. The test score an individual receives is equal to his or her true
    score plus some error, and this error may be attributable to the
    test itself, the examiner, the examinee, or the environment.
28
Q

What are the 3 test classification method?

A
  1. Maximal Performance - required to perform task
  2. Behavioural Observation Tests - observing how people behave
  3. Self-Report Tests - describing own feeling
29
Q

What is this difference between standardized and non-standardized?

A

A standardized test is administered to a large group of individuals (standardized sample) to establish a frame of reference to interpret scores and non-standardized does not- usually written by teacher

30
Q

What is the difference between objective and projective tests?

A

Objective tests is when there are predetermined correct answers such as MC questions.
Subjective tests is when responses are more ambiguous.

31
Q

Test are also discussed in terms of the dimensions they measure, what are some common ones?

A
  1. Achievement Tests
  2. Aptitude Tests
  3. Intelligences Tests
  4. Interest Inventories
  5. Personality Tests
32
Q

What is the difference between psychological assessment and psychological test?

A

An assessment use multiple methods such as personal history, behavioural observation AND tests about an individual. A test is only one took in the assessment process.