Psychology Test Norms and Criteria

Study Notes

Criteria used for selecting children: age, educational level, socioeconomic level, geographic region, community type, and handedness
These criteria ensure the sample is representative of the local population

Provide normative information with respect to the local population's performance on a test
Involve revising an existing test to fit the locality in which it will be administered
New norms are created through this process

Use the distribution of scores obtained on the test from one group of test-takers (fixed reference group) as the basis for calculating test scores for future administrations
This creates an immortalized norm from the past to become the reference in scaling future test administrations

Focuses on how scores relate to a particular content area or domain
A criterion is a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based
Example: a student must have at least a weighted general average of 75% with no grade below 60% in any subject to pass a test

Testing and assessment benefit society
Without tests, people could present themselves as professionals regardless of their background, ability, or credentials
Tests help diagnose educational difficulties and neuropsychological impairments
Tests are critical to many decisions in everyday life

Norm-referenced testing and assessment involve comparing an individual's score to scores of a group of test-takers
The meaning of an individual test score is understood relative to other scores on the same test
A norm refers to behavior that is usual, average, normal, standard, expected, or typical
A normative sample is a group of people whose performance on a particular test is analyzed for reference in evaluating individual test scores

Administer the test to a representative sample of test-takers according to standard instructions
Collect and analyze the data using descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and variability
Summarize the data to establish norms

Percentiles: dividing a distribution into 100 equal parts, with each percentile being the score at or below which a certain percentage of scores fall
Age norms: indicate the average performance of different samples of test-takers who were at various ages at the time the test was administered
Grade norms: designed to indicate the average test performance of test-takers in a given school grade
National norms: obtained by testing large numbers of people representative of different variables of interest
National anchor norms: provide some stability to test scores by anchoring them to other test scores
Subgroup norms: normative information segmented by any of the criteria initially used in selecting subjects for the sample