week1_testing (2).ppt

01/18/24 1 Psychological tests Aim is to describe the basic principles of psychological measurement and to describe the major types of tests and their applications. 01/18/24 2 Psychological tests Perform a behavior Measures something Personal attributes (e.g. motivation) Traits (habitua...

01/18/24 1 Psychological tests Aim is to describe the basic principles of psychological measurement and to describe the major types of tests and their applications. 01/18/24 2 Psychological tests Perform a behavior Measures something Personal attributes (e.g. motivation) Traits (habitual patterns of behavior about human personality, e.g. extraversion) Predict an outcome Standardization of administration Standardization of scoring 01/18/24 3 Nine-dots problem Connect nine squarely arranged points with a pen by four (or less) straight lines without lifting the pen. 01/18/24 4 Nine-dots problem Connect nine squarely arranged points with a pen by four (or less) straight lines without lifting the pen. 01/18/24 5 Solution to the Nine-Dot Problem as Examples of Creativity 01/18/24 6 A psychological test… Is an objective and standardized sample of behavior. 1. Behavior Sample 2. Standardized Measurement 3. Objective Measurement 4. Reliability and validity information provided. 01/18/24 7 A psychological test… 1. Behavior Sample  Respondents have to do something.  Test measures not all but a representative sample of behaviors.  The sample of behaviors defines the quality of the test.  Connection between items and target behavior have to be empirically demonstrated. 01/18/24 8 A psychological test… Connection between items and target behavior have to be empirically demonstrated. Cultural Intelligence Scale 01/18/24 9 A psychological test… 2. Standardized Measurement  Uniformity of in administering and scoring the test. (e.g., TOEFL test, same seating, lighting conditions )  Norms based on large and representative sample. 01/18/24 10 Norms Norm: a standard or range of values that represents the typical performance of a group or of an individual against which comparisons can be made. 01/18/24 11 A psychological test… 3. Objective Measurement  Administration, scoring and interpretation  independent from examiner’s subjective judgement.  Some tests are more subjective than others. 01/18/24 12 A psychological test… 4. Reliability and validity information provided.  Reliability=consistency=same person should get the same scores in different times, with different set of items with different examiners.  Validity=the degree to which the test measures what it should measure. 01/18/24 13 Assumptions… Measure what they say they measure (validity) Stable over time (test-retest reliability) Consistent understanding across individuals Individuals will be accurate and honest Scores = truth + error (test, examiner, examinee, environment) 01/18/24 14 Tests by type… Tests of maximum performance Person’s best performance Examinee must want to do well and know what is considered as a good performance Example: intelligence tests Measures of typical response Feelings, habits. No ‘right’ answer. Observation (both in arranged settings and in the field) Self-reports 01/18/24 15 Tests by aim... Educational testing Admissions and advancement in schools Certification Personnel testing (job-related) Job selection & assessment Training needs Clinical testing Diagnostic tests Personality tests, intelligence tests, neuropsychological tests 01/18/24 16 Why Use Tests? People are not good at judging other people. Tests provide objective information that helps us make better decisions about individuals. 01/18/24 17 Common Applications of Psychological Assessments Diagnosis Treatment planning and effectiveness Selection Placement Classification 01/18/24 18 Common Applications of Psychological Assessments Evaluation Licensing Program Evaluation Scientific Method 01/18/24 19 Participants in the Assessment Process People who develop tests. People who use tests. People who take tests. 01/18/24 20 Measures-Pros and Cons Pros Allows comparisons on same scale Merit based and objective for selection Provides insight into attributes of people not otherwise available Good track record of success 01/18/24 Cons Sloppy (careless, untidy) usage; reliance on tests alone Difficult and costly to develop 21 Some Common Complaints Tests are unfair especially to ethnic and racial minorities Tests often invade one’s personal privacy Tests focus on the wrong content Tests miss the mark too often and lead to bad decisions Tests can be fooled or faked 01/18/24 22 Key Lessons High stakes decisions about people should never be based on a single test score. Choices of tests and evaluations of their usefulness must take into account many factors. 01/18/24 23 Computerized Testing A brand-new world How does it work? Test Bank Pros  Efficient, convenient in scoring data, administering tests, remove human error, quicker and more reliable scoring, detection of unusual response patterns Cons Computer anxiety, require new strategies, control of cheating, response rates on web based surveys Disabled individuals-how does computerization affect them? 01/18/24 24 Online Surveys E-mail Based Interactive Challenges Loss of control, web design 01/18/24 25