Psychological assessment

Question 1

A quiz asks students to pick their eye colour (blue, green, brown, hazel). What kind of scale is this?

a) ordinal
b) nominal
c) interval
d) ratio

Answer 1

b) nominal

Question 2

A quiz asks customers about their satisfaction (very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neutral, satisfied, very satisfied). What kind of scale is this?

a) ordinal
b) nominal
c) interval
d) ratio

Answer 2

a) ordinal

Question 3

Which of the following scales are NOT completed by the respondent (self report)?

a) Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
b) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
c) Zung Depression and Anxiety Scale
d) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

Answer 3

a) Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)

Question 4

Which of the following scales are NOT completed by the interviewer (or observation)?

a) Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS)
b) Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
c) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
d) Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HONOS)

Answer 4

c) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

Question 5

Sometimes presence of the interviewer and knowledge of observation can influence responses. This is known as:

a) response set
b) Social acceptability
c) Halo effect
d) Hawthorne effect

Answer 5

d) Hawthorne effect

Question 6

A new IQ test is analysed against a standard IQ test and there is high correlation between the two data sets. This indicates:

a) Cross validity (concurrent validity)
b) Cross validity (predictive validity)
c) Criterion validity (concurrent validity)
d) Criterion validity (predictive validity)

Answer 6

c) Criterion validity (concurrent validity)

Question 7

An intern performs the Global Assessment Scale on a patient three days in a row. The patient moved wards during this time. The scores were still consistent. This is an example of good:

a) Intra-rater reliability
b) Inter-rater reliability
c) Split-half reliability
d) Test-retest reliability

Answer 7

a) Intra-rater reliability

Note: Inter-rater reliability refers to the agreement between different raters conducting the test at the same time. Test-retest reliability assesses the stability of a test; the degree of correlation between two assessments conducted under identical conditions but at different times.