Psychometrics Flashcards
What does it mean when a test is “standardized”?
It is administered for purposes of norm referencing, and follows a set of rules to produce reliable and valid results.
What are psychological tests?
Standardized instruments/systematic procedures designed to obtain an objective measure of a sample of behaviour.
List 4 types of personality measures:
- omnibus scales (several domains)
- single construct inventories
- impairment oriented scales (diagnostic)
- change scales (tracking treatment)
List 3 types of psychological tests:
- intelligence tests
- aptitude/achievement tests
- personality scales
Roughly, what are the 12 steps involved in test construction?
- research
- define construct
- generate large pool of items
- item analysis
- add/change items
- pilot on large sample
- item analysis
- standardize, norms, validate/cross validate
- create test manual
- continually retest for reliability
What are validity scales?
Items included in tests to measure the extent that a person might be following a response set (ex child indicates they have never felt angry)
List 2 strengths and 2 limitations of self report inventories:
Strengths: report internally, suggest what is driving behaviour
Limitations: less than accurate, children may not be skilled enough to answer
List 3 examples of tests with self report inventories:
- Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC)
- Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, Youth Self Report (YSR)
- MMPI
- Conners 3rd Edition Self Report
- Personality Inventory for Youth (PIY)
What should be considered before using a self report inventory?
- developmental level
- constructs of the test
- purpose of the test
- which tool is ultimately best
What steps are involved when interpreting a self report inventory?
- check validity scales
- check critical items
- look for elevation
- look for items which created elevation
- integrate scores from other informants
- integrate other data
- set treatment goals
List strengths and weaknesses of parent report ratings:
Strengths: critical perspective, effective, objective, history and treatment info
Limitations: bias/response sets, lack of good comparisons/knowledge, may be influenced by the construct, age the of child may affect accuracy
List strengths and weaknesses of teacher report ratings:
Strengths: structured setting, knowledge of comparisons/development
Limitations: may not use strengths to advantage, biased by labels, only see child in one setting
What can be said about parent-teacher agreement on reports?
High agreement of external behaviours
Low agreement of internal behaviours
What can be said about mother father agreement on reports?
High agreement on number of problems
Low agreement on details of problem
List 3 examples of tests which include parent and teacher reports?
- Behaviour Assessment System for Children
- Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)
- Child Symptom Inventory (CSI)
- Conners 3rd Edition- Parent, Teacher
- Student Behaviour Survey (SBS)
