Week 1: Introduction Flashcards
Define psychological tests
Objective procedures for sampling and quantifying human behaviour to make an inference about a particular psychological construct using standardised stimuli and methods of administration and scoring
Why do we need psychological tests? (DPPCUH)
- helpful in making DECISIONS or PROMOTING self understanding
- help us understand PSYCHOLOGICAL problems
- CORE skill for professional psychologists
- can be USEFUL before a session
- HUMAN JUDGEMENT t is subject and fallible
Why is it important to study psychological testing?
- explains current practices that may seem peculiar
- strengths and limitations of tests are more obvious when viewed in a historical context
- understanding ethical issues and misuse and abuse in tests
- historical context highlights development across time
List some advantages of psychological testing (IOO)
- can make inferences about behaviour in social contexts
- objective and uses same standardised materials
- objective reference point for evaluating behaviour
Limitations of psychological testing (DGOL)
- cannot make decisions for users
- gaps between what the psych wants to measure vs. what it measures
- psych tests can become obsolete
- sometimes test can disadvantage people based on language or other cultural experience
Define TESTING in terms of comparison to assessment
The process of administering a test and obtaining and interpreting the test scores
Define ASSESSMENT in terms of comparison to testing
The process of answering referral questions, including psych testing, developing a holistic view of the client
List four types of psychological tests
- self report vs. performance
- individual vs. group administration
- human vs. computer assisted testing
- norm referenced vs. criterion referenced testing
What is a culture fair test?
One for which there is no systematic distortion of scores resulting from differences in the cultural background of the test takers
What are the three broad principles of Ethics in the APS code of ethics?
- respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples
- propriety
- integrity
What other factors should we consider when selecting tests??
- usability
- reliability
- validity
What are some issues re: availability to consider?
- how available is the test?
- cost-licensing issues
- time
- knowing that a test is a thing
What are some issues re: administering the test?
- skills for competent administration
- will it take long enough to develop thorough knowledge about the test?
- am i allowed to administer it?
- manual layout
List some other test issues
- time
- cost, affordability
- necessity
- group norms
- examinee appropriateness
List the three categories of reliability
- test-retest
- parallel and alternate forms
- internal consistency
What does test-retest measure?
- how stable the measure is over time
- the estimate of reliability obtained by correlating pairs of scores from the same people on 2 different occasions
When is test-retest not appropriate
For measuring things that you would expect to change over a brief period e.g mood/stress
What is alternate forms
When you need two forms of the same test
List examiner influences on test performance (TERRF)
- level of TRAINING and preparation
- EXPECTANCY effects
- effects of REINFORCING responses
- ability to establish RAPPORT
- FAMILIARITY of examiner
Test taker variables to consider (PLIT)
- language of the test taker, hearing, visual impairments
- test anxiety
- illness including psychological
- previous experiences e.g with tests, failure, assessment in prisons
Situational variables to consider
- noise and other distractions
- temperature
- ventilation, comfort
- working space
- time and scheduling
Define validity
The extent to which a test measures what t purports to measure
List the five types of validity
- face
- content
- concurrent (criterion related)
- predictive (criterion related)
- construct (convergent and divergent)
Describe face validity
- mere appearance that the test has validity - does it seem reasonable related to what is being tested?
