Week 2

Question 1

Representation model

Answer 1

Before you develop a testing instrument, a scale must have proven interval properties before it can be used

Question 2

What must a scale look like when developing a test?

Answer 2

The scale must be ostensive (visualizable) like a yardstick or clocks

Question 3

Basic problems in measurement theory

Answer 3

No single approach to measurement of any construct is universally accepted
-no conversion in measurement scales

Question 4

Error of measurement

Answer 4

There will always be measurement error with humans because humans are testing other humans due to biases, limited samples

Question 5

What did Mischel (1968) say

Answer 5

Proclaimed that behaviors and traits are situationally dependent and are not intrinsic, the way we behave is completely dependent on the environment ex: very active people who go on airplanes tend to have a difficult time, there behavior changes due to the environment

Question 6

Why is what Mischel (1968) said a problem?

Answer 6

This is an issue for psychologists because we want to have a pattern of behavior for a diagnosis. This makes clinical psych no longer able to be used (obsolete)

Question 7

State vs. Trait

Answer 7

Interviews-Anxiety
Loved one passing away-Depression
-if there is a trait, you would see that trait among multiple situations, so your correlation should be high, but its situations that cause this behavior not the trait alone

Question 8

Accurate predictions of behavior comes from

Answer 8

Multiple items average over various situation and multiple occasions

Question 9

The key to understanding traits is

Answer 9

Developing good measurement strategies

Question 10

When cross-situational and multiple item measures are used correlations for generalized traits are

Answer 10

Raised to .60 or above, this explains that intrinsic traits do exist

Question 11

Marshmallow test (Mischel)

Answer 11

This study was done to see if there were intrinsic traits, and explained that there was, the traits persist in the persons lives

Question 12

Psychological assessment vs. psychological testing

Answer 12

Testing: just looking at test scores, benefit the needs of the client & Assessment: taking test scores and put it in within larger context, have a relationship between patient and clinician

Question 13

Main focuses of testing

Answer 13

On the deficit

Question 14

Main focuses on psychological assessment

Answer 14

To assess challenge areas and areas of potential

Question 15

Matarrazo (1990)

Answer 15

Explains that clinicians do not understand assessment

Question 16

Matarrazo explains two major areas of assessment that are used too infrequently

Answer 16

1) work records, school records, grades
2) Do not have a firm understanding of psychometric properties of instruments

Question 17

2 areas that clinicians need to be more psychometrically aware are as follows

Answer 17

1) standard error of measurement
2) individuals given the same exam multiple time leads to various testing scores that are often not similar

Question 18

Standard error of measurement

Answer 18

how repeated measures of a person on the same instrument tend to be distributed around his or her true score

Question 19

Two theories on stability of traits

Answer 19

Classical trait perspective & radical contextual perspective

Question 20

Classical trait perspective

Answer 20

Traits are biologically based temperaments that do not change over time

Question 21

Radical contextual perspective

Answer 21

Emphasizes the role of environment and experience and the personality is fluid and is changeable

Question 22

Personality traits and cognitive traits

Answer 22

Are relatively stable throughout the lifetime, increases more from age three and on

Question 23

Cumulative continuity principle

Answer 23

Genetic factors contribute to the increase of personality traits over the lifespan (combination of the two perspectives)

Question 24

Set point

Answer 24

Certain amount we can change but we have a set point that can be set to on levels, we all regress back to our set point

Question 25

Unidimensional

Answer 25

Examining ordinal ranking on one attribute (spelling test) or having a child read aloud to hear that they can read

Question 26

Just noticeable difference (Fechner)

Answer 26

Slight differences in our perception of sensations

Question 27

Response centered approaches

Answer 27

Each respondent is asked to rank order his or her preference for a set of stimuli or to rank order a set of statements in terms of their proximity to his or her own personal beliefs

Question 28

Fechners methodology

Answer 28

Is what we use today in modern psychological testing, indirect methods: need to measure objects to get at attributes and relies on the subject to discriminate

Question 29

Scaling items in psychology

Answer 29

1) judgments vs. sentiments
2) absolute vs. comparative responses

Question 30

Judgments

Answer 30

Where there is a correct response
Ex: how much is 2 plus 2?

Question 31

Sentiments

Answer 31

Where’s the answer is based on preference
Ex: how much do you like soup?

Question 32

Absolute vs. Comparative responses

Answer 32

Examines a particular stimulus whereas comparative responses relate to two or more stimuli (do you like peas or do you like peas more than corn?)

Question 33

Standard deviation

Answer 33

Average of raw scores from the mean, raw scores are the deviations from mean

Question 34

WAIS

Answer 34

100 is mean and standard deviation is 15

Question 35

Dudychas study of personality

Answer 35

Examined the trait of punctuality in college students in various events from classes, meals, activities, correlation was significant, however it was seen that intrinsic traits do exist