Psychometrics and Measurement Reliability

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Questions and Answers

What does systematic error in measurement typically refer to?

An error that only occurs during test administration

An error that decreases as sample size increases

A constant error proportional to the true value (correct)

A random error that varies with each measurement

How does the Domain Sampling Model relate to reliability?

It ignores the concept of sampling error

It focuses solely on correlation without context

More items in a test lead to lower reliability

Higher item count increases reliability (correct)

According to Classical Test Theory (CTT), what does the equation X = T + E signify?

True score equals observed score minus systematic error

Measurement error is always constant

The observed score is equal to the test construction error

The observed score equals the true score plus measurement error (correct)

What does the Standard Error of Measurement represent?

The standard deviation of errors based on assumed random distribution Signup and view all the answers

What is a key disadvantage of Classical Test Theory (CTT)?

Requires identical test items for each individual Signup and view all the answers

What is a source of error variance during test construction?

Variation among items within a test Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can influence the test taker's performance during test administration?

The test taker's attention and motivation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes random errors in measurements?

They fluctuate and do not follow a predictable pattern Signup and view all the answers

What did Charles Spearman aim to prove regarding intelligence?

The link between intelligence and visual acuity. Signup and view all the answers

Who pioneered the field of human ability testing?

Guy Montrose Whipple Signup and view all the answers

What technique did Charles Spearman provide the foundation for?

Factor analysis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following contributions is attributed to Louis Leon Thurstone?

Developed the vocational interest blank Signup and view all the answers

What type of testing information is usually found in test catalogues?

Brief descriptions of the tests Signup and view all the answers

Which reference work provides detailed information on each test listed?

Reference Volumes Signup and view all the answers

What action did the APA take in response to Guy Montrose Whipple's criticisms?

Created its first standards for professional psychological testing. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is typically associated with individuals with mental retardation as mentioned in the content?

Diminished ability to discriminate among sensations like heat and cold. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first person to use the term 'mental test'?

James McKeen Cattell Signup and view all the answers

What did Edouard Seguin reject in his approach to mental retardation?

The notions of incurable mental retardation Signup and view all the answers

Which individual is known for proposing the Mathematical models of the mind?

Johann Friedrich Herbart Signup and view all the answers

Which concept did Ernst Heinrich Weber propose that relates to sensory perception?

Just Noticeable Differences (JND) Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of Alfred Binet's work in intelligence testing?

Placing children in special classes based on their abilities Signup and view all the answers

Which individual differentiated between insanity and mental retardation?

James McKeen Cattell Signup and view all the answers

Emil Kraepelin is known for a series of examinations focused on which type of individuals?

Emotionally impaired individuals Signup and view all the answers

What training method did Edouard Seguin pioneer for mentally retarded persons?

Sense/muscle training Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered one of the founders of Psychophysics?

Gustav Theodor Fechner Signup and view all the answers

What does the IQ formula IQ = Mental Age / Chronological Age X 100 represent?

The calculation of intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Which intelligence test was published by Lewis Madison Terman in 1916?

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale Signup and view all the answers

What did the Army Alpha test specifically assess?

Literacy among soldiers Signup and view all the answers

Which structured personality test involves ambiguous pictures?

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Signup and view all the answers

Who was commissioned by the US Army to develop structured tests of human abilities?

Robert Yerkes Signup and view all the answers

Which law relates the strength of a sensation to stimulus intensity?

Weber-Fechner Law Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of David Wechsler's intelligence tests?

Subscales producing multiple scores Signup and view all the answers

What is a validity coefficient primarily used to assess?

The accuracy of a criterion-related validity Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does NOT contribute to construct validation?

Showing discrepancies between different constructs Signup and view all the answers

What must be established for criterion validity studies to be meaningful?

The criterion must be valid and reliable Signup and view all the answers

What is convergent validity concerned with?

Correlation with similar constructs Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the predictor in relation to the criterion?

It is the variable that affects the criterion Signup and view all the answers

In conducting a validity study, why is it important to review the subject population?

To confirm that the sample is representative of the group in question Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a small sample size in a validity study?

It can lead to unreliable results Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the difference between the criterion and predictor?

The criterion measures the effectiveness of the predictor Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Systematic Error

Refers to a constant or proportionate error in measurement.

Theory of Reliability

Combines sampling error and correlation in measurement.
Examines the impact of using a limited number of items to represent a larger concept.
Conceptualizes reliability as the ratio of observed score variance to long-run true score variance.

Sources of Error Variance

Test Construction: Variation among items within a test and between tests influences reliability.
Test Administration: Factors like attention and motivation during test administration can affect reliability.

Domain Sampling Model

This model suggests that more items lead to higher reliability.

Test Score Theory: Classical Test Theory (CTT)

Known as the true score model.
Formula: X = T + E (Observed score = True score + Error)
Standard Error of Measurement: Represents the standard deviation of errors.
Assumption: Error distribution is constant across individuals.
Limitations: Requires identical test administration for each person.

Sources of Information About Tests

Test Catalogues: Briefly describe tests but lack detailed technical information.
Test Manuals: Provide comprehensive information on test development and technical details.
Reference Volumes: Regularly updated volumes offering detailed test information (e.g., Mental Measurements Yearbook).
Journal Articles: Include test reviews, psychometric soundness analyses, and application examples.

Early Experimental Psychologists

Early focus on identifying commonalities, not individual differences.
Individual differences were seen as sources of error.
Key figures:
- Johan Friedrich Herbart: Proposed mathematical models of the mind.
- Ernst Heinrich Weber: Introduced concepts of sensory thresholds and Just Noticeable Differences (JND).
- Gustav Theodor Fechner: Studied mathematical sensory thresholds and founded psychophysics.

Intelligence Testing

Alfred Binet: Commissioned to develop a test for placing Paris schoolchildren into special classes.
Binet-Simon Scale: The first intelligence test, standardized and using a sample for calibration.
Lewis Madison Terman: Translated the Binet-Simon scale into English, published as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, and introduced the concept of IQ.
Robert Yerkes: Commissioned by the US Army to develop structured tests of human abilities.
- Army Alpha: Verbal test for literate soldiers.
- Army Beta: Non-verbal test for illiterate soldiers.

Interest in Mental Deficiency

Jean Etienne Esquirol: A French physician who distinguished insanity from mental retardation.
Edouard Seguin: Pioneered training for individuals with mental retardation and rejected the notion of incurable retardation.
Emil Kraepelin: Developed examinations for evaluating individuals with emotional impairments.

Charles Spearman

Investigated the relationship between intelligence and visual acuity.
Developed the concept of a general intelligence factor (g), present in all intellectual activities.

Karl Pearson

Student of Galton.
Invented the correlation coefficient formula (Pearson's r).

James McKeen Cattell

First to use the term “mental test”.
Linked measures of simple discrimination, perception, and association to independent estimates of intellectual level.
Influenced by Galton's work.

Guy Montrose Whipple

Influenced by Fechner and Titchner.
Expanded the use of correlational methods.
His seminar prompted the APA to issue its first standards for professional psychological testing.

Louis Leon Thurstone

Contributed significantly to factor analysis.
Developed the Law of Comparative Judgment as a measurement approach.

Personality Testing

These tests aim to measure personality traits, with validity coefficients.
First structured test:
Rorschach Inkblot Test (RIT): Developed by Hermann Rorschach and used to assess personality.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Developed in 1935 and involves telling stories based on ambiguous pictures.

Evaluating Validity Coefficient

Consider:
- Changes in the cause of relationships.
- The validity and reliability of the criterion.
- The representativeness of the subject population in the validity study.
- An adequate sample size for cross-validation.

Construct Validity

Construct: An abstract scientific idea or hypothesis explaining behavior.
Construct validation: Gathering evidence about the meaning and relationship of a test to other measures.
Convergent Validity: Positive correlation between a test and established measures of the same construct.
Evidence:
- Consistency between the test and other measures.
- Showing the test measures the same thing as established tests.
- Moderate to high correlation coefficients.

Criterion vs. Predictor

The criterion is the standard/desired outcome, while the predictor is a variable that affects the criterion.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts in psychometrics, focusing on systematic errors, the theory of reliability, and sources of error variance in test scores. It also introduces the classical test theory and the domain sampling model. Test your understanding of these essential topics in measurement and reliability!