Test Scores and Norms multiple choice questions

Question 1

1 Raw scores and linear transformed scores based on them have
A the same mean
B the same standard deviation
C the same relationship among scores
D the same range

Answer 1

C the same relationship among scores

Question 2

2 Transforming scores on psychological tests is done primarily to
A protect the privacy of the test taker
B aid interpretation of the scores
C make the scores more manageable
D make the scores available for research

Answer 2

B aid interpretation of the scores

Question 3

3 Criterion referencing of test scores
A provides direct access to their meaning
B is only the first step in giving them meaning
C is always done with psychological tests
D applies properties of the normal curve

Answer 3

A provides direct access to their meaning

Question 4

4 Norm referencing of test scores
A compares scores among test takers
B requires data gathering with a reasonably large sample
C has been used since the early history of psychological testing
D all of the above

Answer 4

D all of the above

Question 5

5 Non-linear transformations of test scores
A do not make use of the equation for a straight line
B are inferior to a linear transformation
C preserve all the features of the original scores
D are seldom used with modern psychological tests

Answer 5

A do not make use of the equation for a straight line

Question 6

6 A T score transformation
A gives rise to a distribution of scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of
10
B has the same mean as the original distribution of raw scores
C is derived using a non-linear transformation
D is named after Terman, who was the first to use the transformation

Answer 6

A gives rise to a distribution of scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of
10

Question 7

7 Percentiles
A is another name for scores expressed as per cent correct
B express the person’s score in terms of where it lies in a distribution of scores
C are only used when other transformations are not possible
D provide a normal distribution of scores

Answer 7

B express the person’s score in terms of where it lies in a distribution of scores

Question 8

8 z scores
A can be computed when either an estimate of the mean or an estimate of the
standard deviation is available
B require access to a table of the normal curve for their calculation
C were used by Wechsler in the first edition of his test of intelligence
D are rarely used in scoring psychological tests

Answer 8

C were used by Wechsler in the first edition of his test of intelligence

Question 9

9 Which of the following is not a linear transformation?
A stanine score
B T score
C z score
D standard score

Answer 9

A stanine score

Question 10

10 What proportion of scores in a normal distribution lie above a z score of 1?
A 50 per cent
B 16 per cent
C 25 per cent
D 10 per cent

Answer 10

B 16 per cent

Question 11

11 If a z score of 1.33 is obtained we know that the person’s raw score
A is above average
B is lower than the scores of most others on the test
C is about average
D falls at the 84th percentile

Answer 11

A is above average

Question 12

12 A score higher than 65 on an MMPI scale is of interest because
A most people obtain scores in that range
B clinical experience suggests that it is
C it is more than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean
D it is well above the 50 per cent correct mark

Answer 12

C it is more than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean

Question 13

13 Percentiles can be calculated in a number of ways. Which of the following is not a way
of calculating a percentile?
A graphically from a plot of the cumulative distribution of scores
B by formula
C from tables of the normal curve
D from the equation of a straight line

Answer 13

D from the equation of a straight line

Question 14

14 Because normalised standard scores follow a normal distribution they
A preserve the differences among the original raw scores
B have the same mean as the original raw score distribution
C are attractive to test constructors
D do not require the use of the normal curve for their interpretation

Answer 14

C are attractive to test constructors

Question 15

15 A score of 115 on a version of Wechsler’s test of intelligence means that the score
A is well below average
B is one standard deviation above the average score on that version
C is equivalent to a z score of 1.115
D has a percentile rank of 15

Answer 15

B is one standard deviation above the average score

Question 16

16 Which of the following statements about norms is correct?
A for every psychological test there is one and only one set of norms
B the size of the sample used in developing norms is irrelevant once the norms have
been developed
C different norms may apply for the different purposes for which a test score is used
D norms are best developed using a criterion referencing approach

Answer 16

C different norms may apply for the different purposes for which a test score is used

Question 17

17 In test construction
A random samples from the general population are always employed
B representative samples from the population of interest are employed
C accidental or convenience samples have been found to be as good as any other
D random samples are employed for the initial analysis but not subsequently

Answer 17

B representative samples from the population of interest are employed

Question 18

18 Wechsler, in developing the norms for his first test of intelligence, used a stratified
sampling plan because
A the factors on which he stratified were known to relate to intelligence
B this was the quickest way norms could be constructed
C intelligence was thought to be normally distributed
D sample size was known to be an issue

Answer 18

A the factors on which he stratified were known to relate to intelligence

Question 19

19 In estimating a mean from a sample
A the larger the sample size the smaller the standard deviation of scores
B the smaller the sample size the smaller the standard deviation of scores
C the larger the sample size the smaller the standard error of the mean
D the larger the sample size the larger the standard error of the mean

Answer 19

C the larger the sample size the smaller the standard error of the mean

Question 20

20 The Flynn effect refers to the observation that
A the raw score mean on intelligence tests has remained constant over the years
B the standard deviation of scores on intelligence tests has remained constant over
time
C the raw score mean on intelligence tests has been increasing over the years
D the raw score mean on intelligence tests has been decreasing over the years

Answer 20

C the raw score mean on intelligence tests has been increasing over the years

Question 21

21 Comparing z scores for two individuals from the same cultural background on a test
with norms from a different culture
A is indefensible
B is meaningful
C can only be done if the norms are without error
D can only be done if the sample size on which the norms are based is adequate

Answer 21

B is meaningful

Question 22

22 Checking whether the IQ of an individual has changed by readministering the test with
which their IQ was originally measured
A is liable to be in error if the test has been renormed between test administrations
B is not as accurate as using a different test on the second occasion
C depends on the length of the test being used
D is no longer a recommended procedure

Answer 22

A is liable to be in error if the test has been renormed between test administrations

Question 23

23 The Flynn effect is a factor that needs to be considered
A with all forms of psychological tests
B with personality tests
C with interest tests
D with intelligence tests

Answer 23

D with intelligence tests

Question 24

24 The difference in test performance between percentile scores of 60 and 55
A is equivalent to that between percentile scores of 15 and 10
B cannot be readily equated to all other 5 point differences in percentiles
C is equivalent to that between percentile scores of 60 and 70
D is twice that between percentile scores of 15 and 10

Answer 24

B cannot be readily equated to all other 5 point differences in percentiles

Question 25

25 A T score of 40 corresponds to a percentile of
A 16
B 40
C 10
D the percentile cannot be determined

Answer 25

A 16

Question 26

26 A sten score of 9.5
A is obtained by fewer than 5 per cent of individuals
B corresponds to a percentile of 84
C is equivalent to a z score of 2
D is obtained by more than 20 per cent of test takers

Answer 26

C is equivalent to a z score of 2

Question 27

27 The Deviation IQ on a Wechsler scale at the 50th centile is
A 90
B 100
C 110
D 50

Answer 27

B 100

Question 28

28 A Deviation IQ that corresponds to a stanine of 9
A must be quite high
B must be quite low
C must be in the middle range
D is on a different scale and hence bears no relationship to stanine

Answer 28

A must be quite high

Question 29

29 Normalised standard scores
A are based on percentiles
B are T scores under another name
C are based on sten scores
D have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15

Answer 29

A are based on percentiles

Question 30

30 Wechsler used the z score principle on his test
A to calculate sub-test scores but not full-scale scores
B to calculate both sub-test scores and full-scale scores
C to calculate full-scale but not sub-test scores
D only to determine special indices

Answer 30

B to calculate both sub-test scores and full-scale scores