Exam 1

Question 1

A systematic procedure for obtaining samples of behavior, relevant to cognitive or affective functioning, and for scoring and evaluating those samples according to standards.

Answer 1

psychological test

Question 2

the use of standards for evaluating test results. These standards are most often norms derived from a group of individuals in the process of developing the test.

Answer 2

normative/standardization sample

Question 3

I take tests by choice or necessity. Who am I?

Answer 3

test taker

Question 4

I conceive, prepare, and develop tests. Who am I?

Answer 4

test author

Question 5

I publish, market, and sell tests, thus controlling their
distribution. Who am I?

Answer 5

test publisher

Question 6

I administer the test either to one individual at a time or to groups. Who am I?

Answer 6

test administrator

Question 7

This individual developed the first IQ test for children with learning difficulties who needed special education.

Answer 7

Alfred Binet

Question 8

This individual devised a theory of intelligence that emphasized a general intelligence factor (or g) present in all intellectual activities.

Answer 8

Charles Spearman

Question 9

This individual developed the first standardized IQ test called the Army Alpha.

Answer 9

Robert Yerkes (APA President)

Question 10

Looking into the Army Alpha, who was the test administrator and the test taker?

Answer 10

the US army administered the test, and army recruits took the test.

Question 11

I am an ability/aptitude test (ex. Army Alpha, SAT, GRE, MCAT, IQ). Am I objective or subjective?

Answer 11

objective

Question 12

I am an achievement test (ex. reading, math). Am I objective or subjective?

Answer 12

objective

Question 13

I am a rating scale (ex. behavior, personality, interests, mental health). Am I objective or subjective?

Answer 13

subjective

Question 14

I am a projective test (ex. Rorschach Ink Blot, drawing). Am I objective or subjective?

Answer 14

subjective

Question 15

I am an observation (ex. infants research). Am I objective or subjective?

Answer 15

subjective

Question 16

Here are the steps of the assessment process. Place them in correct order:
A. diagnostic questions
B. evaluating judgments
C. goals
D. making predictions

Answer 16

C. goals
A. diagnostic questions
D. making predictions
B. evaluating judgments

Question 17

A form of test that is commercially available through a test publisher, although they sometimes go out of print as books do.

Answer 17

published test

Question 18

A form of test obtained directly from the individual investigator who created them (author) unless they appear in the periodical literature or in specialized directories.

Answer 18

unpublished test

Question 19

Which of the following is not an essential element of psychological testing?
A. systematic procedures
B. the use of empirically derived standards
C. preestablished rules for scoring
D. sampling behavior from affective domains

Answer 19

D. sampling behavior from affective domains

Question 20

The single most important source of criteria for evaluating tests, testing: practices, and the effects of test use can be found in the
A. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
B. Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
C. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
D. Report of the Task Force on Test User Qualifications.

Answer 20

B. Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.

Question 21

Evaluating psychological tests is the least problematic:
A. prior to their being placed into use.
B. once they have been placed into use.

Answer 21

A. prior to their being placed into use.

Question 22

Credit for devising the first successful psychological test in the modern
era is usually given to:
A. Francis Galton
B. Alfred Binet
C. James McKeen Cattell
D. Wilhelm Wundt.

Answer 22

B. Alfred Binet

Question 23

The primary purpose for which psychological tests are currently used is:
A. psychological research
B. educational research
C. decision making
D. self-understanding and personal development

Answer 23

C. decision making

Question 24

Compared to psychological testing, psychological assessment is generally:
A. simpler
B. more structured
C. more expensive
D. more objective

Answer 24

C. more expensive

Question 25

What is the Flynn effect?

Answer 25

Our IQ increases over time

Question 26

What kind of test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory?

Answer 26

personality assessment

Question 27

What kind of test is the Big 5?

Answer 27

personality assessment

Question 28

What kind of test is the Beck Depression Inventory?

Answer 28

mental health assessment

Question 29

What kind of test is an IQ test, such as the Weschler Intelligence Scale?

Answer 29

ability assessment

Question 30

What are the most significant advantages that psychological tests offer? In other words, why would we use a psychological test?

Answer 30

efficiency and objectivity

Question 31

the starting point from which potential gains in accuracy can be calculated, that is to say, the established probability of events in a population prior to the introduction of any novel procedure, such as testing. more importantly, the proportion of correct decisions that are made without the use of test scores

Answer 31

base rate

Question 32

improvement contributed by a test in selection decisions

Answer 32

incremental validity

Question 33

Base rate data extremes - 0.10 (10%) and 0.90 (90%) - refer to what?

Answer 33

10% is easy, 90% is hard

Question 34

Bob is 65 and excited to retire and do things. A month later, he begins to lose motivation for things he enjoys, unhappily going through the motions. He thinks he may be depressed and thus, takes an online scoring of a depression scale. His score falls into the depressive range. Following this, Bob visits his doctor, who confirms that Bob is experiencing acute depression, but also assures him that it is normal for folks at this stage of life. Identify the base rate (incremental validity).

Answer 34

What - depression
P/N - positive identification
T/F - true positive

Question 35

A teacher was concerned that her student, Susie, may have ADHD. The teacher completed Connor’s scale and found Susie was displaying hyperactive behaviors. The mother took her to an official to get tested, the official said she was completely normal and did not have ADHD. Identify the base rate (incremental validity).

Answer 35

What - ADHD
P/N - positive identification
T/F - false positive

Question 36

Nelson started to notice his son was exhibiting struggles with everyday behavior and was concerned that the boy may have Autism. He looked up some symptoms online but after asking his son some questions, he was not so sure anymore, feeling that it may be just a phase. However, upon going to a professional to get his son examined, his initial guess was correct and his son was diagnosed with Autism. Identify the base rate (incremental validity).

Answer 36

What - Autism
P/N - negative identification
T/F - false negative

Question 37

James had been struggling to keep himself afloat recently. His girlfriend assumed that his mood swings meant he had to be Bipolar, but James was sure that he was just gong through a rough patch. However, she insisted on getting him to take some online assessments. They proved it to show inadequate, which only made him more confident that he did not have BPD. This still was not enough for her though, so she took him to a therapist, who further confirmed that James did not have BPD but was surely struggling with managing his moods during stressful moments.

Answer 37

What - Bipolar disorder
P/N - negative
T/F - true negative

Question 38

What are 3 examples of other assessment tools that can be used to gather information for evaluating and making decisions about
people?

Answer 38

biodata, interviews, and observations

Question 39

What are the essentials of test administration? (2 words)

Answer 39

adequate preparation

Question 40

What are the 3 proper techniques for the administration of psychological tests?

Answer 40

preparing the testing environment, preparing the test taker, and preparing the examiner/administrator

Question 41

What are the two big factors that have a bearing on examinees’ predispositions toward testing and the extent to which they are prepared for a test-taking experience?

Answer 41

test anxiety and test sophistication/wiseness

Question 42

One factor of test-taking where the prospect of being evaluated tends to elicit some degree of apprehension in most test-takers.

Answer 42

test anxiety

Question 43

One factor of test-taking that is the extent to which test takers have had
experience or practice in taking tests. In other words, you consciously know what the test is asking.

Answer 43

test sophistication/test wiseness

Question 44

Attempts on the part of test takers to present themselves in either
an unrealistically favorable or unfavorable fashion that can be conscious or unconscious.

Answer 44

test dissimulation

Question 45

All of the following are traits of computer-based testing EXCEPT:
A. allowing the examinee time to respond
B. test performance not influenced by the test administrator
C. cost-effectiveness
D. bypassing test administration errors
E. uniformity in test preparation & scoring

Answer 45

A. allowing the examinee time to respond

Question 46

Firewalls, data encryption, and passwords are examples of what form of test interpretation?

Answer 46

Safeguarding results

Question 47

If a test is factual, based on observations and experiments, and requires no extended judgment from the administrator, is it subjective or objective?

Answer 47

Objective

Question 48

If a test is based on a point of view, delves into long answers, and differs from person to person, is it subjective or objective?

Answer 48

Subjective