W1 - Chapter 1 - Psychological Testing and Assessment Flashcards
To Master Keywords
accommodation
the adaptation of a test, assessment, procedure or situation; or substitution of one test for another, to make an assessment more suitable for an assessee with exceptional needs - p.31
achievement test
evaluates accomplishment or the degree of learning that has taken place - p.22
alternate assessment
-
evaluative or diagnostic procedure/process which varies from usual, customary, or standardised way a measurement is obtained
e. g., via some special accommodation made to assessee - or alternative method designed to measure same variable(s). - p.31
behavioural observation
assessment professionals - monitor actions of self or others - visual or electronic means - records QUANTITATIVE & QUALITATIVE information about those actions. - Often used as diagnostic aid in variety of settings - inpatient facilities, behavioural research laboratories, and classrooms. - p.12
CAPA
“Computer Assisted Psychological Testing” - assisted refers to test user - not the testtaker - p.15
case history
report or illustrative account compiled on basis of case history data: (also referred to as a case study) p.12
case history data
- records, transcripts & other accounts - written, pictorial or other forms that preserve archival information (i.e., official & informal accounts, & other data & items relevant to an assessee - p.11
case study
report or illustrative account compiled on basis of case history data: (also referred to as a case history) p.12
central processing
computerized scoring, interpretation or other conversion of RAW test data that is physically transported from the same or other test sites to a central location. Transported by phone lines (teleprocessing), mail, or courier. (contrast with teleprocessing & local processing) p.14
collaborative psychological assessment
process of assessment where assessee & assessor work as partners from initial contact through final feedback - p.4
What is a consultative report?
type of INTERPRETIVE report - provides EXPERT & DETAILED ANALYSIS of test data - mimics work of an expert consultant p.15
cut score
- (also cutoff score or cutoff)
- reference point (usually numerical) - derived as a result of judgement
- divides set of data into 2 or more classifications - with some action to be taken or inference to be made - e.g., aids in decision making by employers etc p.7 & I-9
dementia
- loss of cognitive functioning
- may affect memory, reasoning, thinking, psychomotor speed, attention, personality & related abilities - caused by damage or loss of brain cells
- p.24
diagnosis
- description/conclusion reached on basis of EVIDENCE AND OPINION
- through process of DISTINGUISHING the nature of something & RULING OUT ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSIONS - p.22
diagnostic test
A tool used to make a diagnosis - usually to identify areas of deficit to be targeted for intervention - p.22
dynamic assessment
- interactive approach to assessment
- based on a test-intervention-retest model (p.361)
- usually follows 1) evaluation, 2) intervention 3) evaluation model (p.6)
extended scoring report
provides STATISTICAL DATA on top of just a scoring report - p.14
format
- pertains to the FORM, PLAN, STRUCTURE, ARRANGEMENT & LAYOUT of test items
- also includes related considerations e.g., time limits, software etc p.7 & I-11
groupthink
- Collective decision-making
- characterized more by a drive for CONSENSUS than critical analysis & evaluation.
- May lead to less reasoned & riskier decisions that may have been made by an individual. - p.12
health psychology
focusses on understanding the role of psychological variables in the onset, course, treatment & prevention of illness, disease & disability - p.26
informal evaluation
- typically nonsystematic, relatively **brief **“off the record” assessment LEADING to the **formation **of an opinion or attitude.
- Not subject to same **Ethics **or **Standards **as evaluation by a professional; contrast with formal evaluation - p.22
integrative report
a form of INTERPRETIVE REPORT of psychological assessment - Usually computer generated
- PURPOSE: to integrate data from multiple sources e.g., behavioural, medical, administrative &/or other sources; contrast with scoring report)
interpretive report
- a step up from a scoring report - distinguished by its inclusion of NUMERICAL or NARRATIVE INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS. - Three types 1) DESCRIPTIVE, 2) SCREENING and 3) CONSULTATIVE (which is at the high end of interpretive reports) - p. 15
interview
- tool of assessment
- information gathered thru direct, reciprocal communication - p.9-10
local processing
ON-SITE computerised scoring, interpretation, or other conversion of raw test data
: (contrast with central processing & teleprocessing). p14
naturalistic observation
- behavioural observation that takes place in naturally occurring setting
- purpose: evaluation and information gathering
- p.13
panel interview
- also board interview
- more than one interviewer participates in the assessment
- ADVANTAGE (lone interviewer biases minimised) - DISADVANTAGE > (Utility - cost of multiple interviewers may not be justified) p.10
portfolio
- sample of ones work
- referred to as portfolio assessment when utilized as tool in evaluative or diagnostic process
protocol
(1) The form for testtakers responses
(2) a method or procedure for evaluation or scoring
- p.27
pseudodementia
- loss of cognitive functioning that mimics dementia - but no loss or damage to brain cells
- p.24
psychological assessment
- gathering & integrating psychological data for psychological evaluation
- thru use of tests, interviews, case studies, behavioural observation, & specially designed apparatuses and measurement procedures
p I-21
psychological autopsy
reconstruction of a deceased individuals psychological profile - archival records, artifacts & interviews with the living assessee or people who knew the deceased
psychological test
measuring device or procedure designed to measure psychology-related variables p.5 & I-21 - almost always involves analysis of a sample of behaviour
psychological testing
- measuring psychology-related variables
- using means/devices/procedures designed to obtain samples of human behaviour - p.2 & I-21
psychometrician
- noun variant of psychometric
- a professional who uses, analyzes, & interprets psychological test data p.9
psychometrics
the science of psychological measurement
p.9
psychometric soundness
- technical quality
- i.e., how consistently (reliably) & how accurately (validly) a tests measures what it purports to measure p.9
psychometrist
- noun variant of psychometric
- a professional who uses, analyzes, & interprets psychological test data
p. 9
quality of life
- evaluation of variables such as - perceived stress - loneliness - sources of satisfaction - personal values - quality of living conditions - quality of friendships - other social support
- p.23
rapport
a working relationship between examiner & examinee in testing & assessment
p.27
role play
acting an improvised or partially improvised part in a simulated situation
role-play test
- assessment tool
- assessees instructed to act ‘as if’ in a particular situation
- p.14
score
a code or summary statement
p.7
scoring
- process of assigning evaluative codes/statements to performance on a test, task, interview or other behaviour sample
p. 7
scoring report
- formal or official computer-generated account of test performance
- usually numerical.
- two varieties 1) simple scoring report and 2) extended scoring report
simple scoring report
- one of the two types of scoring report
- provides only a list of scores
- p.14
social facilitation
- process by which presence of one or more people can influence performance of other persons
- specifically the influence of third parties on performance of an assessee
- p.20
teleprocessing
test related data sent to & returned to a central location (central processing) via phone lines
test
measuring device or procedure
test catalogue
- distributed by publisher of test
- usually only brief description of the test
- seldom has detailed info needed by test user
- catalogue objective is to sell the test - so will not find critical reviews of a test in a test catalogue
- p.33
test developer
- creates tests & other forms of assessment
- APA estimates 20,000 new tests each year
- STANDARDS of ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR specifically address responsible test development & use (American Ed Res Ass - American Psych Ass - Nat Council of Measurement NCME) - referred to as “the standards” Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing - covers test construction & evaluation, administration & use plus other special considerations
test manual
- detailed description of a test
- available from test publisher
- ideally provides key information needed by test users to make an informed decision about whether the test is appropriate for use with a particular testtaker for a particular purpose
- p.34
testtaker
- anyone who is the subject of an assessment or evaluation
- testtakers vary with respect to many variables (anxiety, understanding, willingness, pain, emotional distress, alertness, predispositions to agree/disagree, coaching, portrayal of self in good/bad light - also known as assessee
- p.19
test user
- wide range of professionals inc clinicians, counsellors, school psychologists, human resources personnell, consumer psychologists, experimental psychologists & social psychologists
- ‘the standards’ & other published guidelines identify who is a qualified test user & who should have access to which tests
therapeutic psychological assessment
- collaborative approach
- insights about self encouraged & actively encouraged by assessor
- p4 - I27 - also refer to p.5 Meet Dr Stephen Finn
third parties in psychological assessment
may be supervisor, friend or relative of assessee, translator, attorney, or anyone. Robert J McCaffrey (2007) said “No, third parties should not be allowed to be present during an assessment” - SOCIAL INFLUENCE by mere presence - may affect performance - referred to as SOCIAL FACILITATION and INHIBITION p.20 (CLOSE-UP)
utility
the usefulness or practical value a test or other assessment tool has for a particular purpose p.9
JUST THINK: In addition to psychologists, who should be permitted access to, as well as the privilege of using, psychological tests?
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JUST THINK: What tools of assessment could be used to address a student’s reading ability? p.22
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JUST THINK: What kind of issues do psychologists have to consider when assessing prisoners in contrast to assessing workplace managers? p.23
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What recently deceased public figure would you like to see a psychological autopsy done on? Why? What results might you expect? p.21
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JUST THINK: What cautions should internet test users keep in mind regarding the source of their test data? p.17
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JUST THINK: What are the pros and cons of NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION as tools of assessment? p.13
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JUST THINK: What are the pros and cons of using CASE HISTORY DATA as a tool of assessment? p.12
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JUST THINK: If you were preparing a portfolio representing “who you are” in terms of your educational career, your hobbies, and your values, what would you include in your portfolio? p.10
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JUST THINK: What type of interviewing skills must the host of a talk show possess to be considered an effective interviewer? Do these skills differ from those needed by a professional in the field of psychological assessment? If so, how? p.10
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JUST THINK: How might one test of intelligence have more utility than another test of intelligence in the same school setting? p.9
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JUST THINK: What type of interview situation would you envision as ideal for being carried out entirely through the medium of text messaging? p.9
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JUST THINK: Imagine you wanted to develop a test for a personality trait you termed “goth”. How would you define this trait? What kinds of items would you include in the test? Why would you include those kinds of items? p.7
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JUST THINK: What qualities makes a good leader? How might these qualities be measured? p.4
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JUST THINK: Describe a situation in which testing is more appropriate than assessment. By contrast, describe a situation in which assessment is more appropriate than testing. p.2
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