Chapter 1 Psychological Testing and Assessment The Test

Testing and Assessment Defined • A psychological test is a device or procedure designed

to measure variables related to psychology (e.g.
Testing: The process of measuring psychology-related variables
intelligence, attitudes, personality, interests, etc.).
by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample
of behavior. • Psychological tests vary by content, format,
administration, scoring, interpretation, and technical
Assessment: The gathering and integration of psychology-
quality.
related data for the purpose of making a psychological
evaluation through tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, Psychological Tests
behavioral observation, and other methods.
• Content: The subject matter of the test. Content
Testing and Assessment depends on the theoretical orientation of test
developers and the unique way in which they define the
• The objective of testing is typically to obtain some
construct of interest.
gauge, usually numerical in nature, with regard to an
• Format: The form, plan, structure, layout of test items,
ability or tribute.
and other considerations (e.g. time limits).
• The objective of assessment is typically to answer a
• Administration: Tests may require certain tasks to be
referral question, solve a problem or arrive at a decision
performed, trained observation of performance, or little
through the tools of evaluation.
involvement by the test administrators (e.g. self-report
Assessment questionnaires).
• Scoring and Interpretation: Scoring of tests may be
Dynamic Assessment
simple, such as summing responses to items, or may
- Dynamic assessment is typically employed in require more elaborate procedures.
educational settings but also may be used in
• Some tests results can be interpreted easily, or
correctional, corporate, neuropsychological, clinical,
interpreted by computer, whereas other tests require
and other settings.
expertise for proper interpretation.
EVALUATION TO INTERVENTION TO EVALUATION
Tools of Psychological Assessment
 • Cut Score: A reference point, usually numerical, used to
divide data into two or more classifications (e.g. pass or
fail).
• Technical Quality or Psychometric Soundness:
Psychometrics is the science of psychological
measurement. The psychometric soundness of a test
depends on how consistently and accurately the test
measures what it purports to measure.
• Test users are sometimes referred to as psychometrists
or psychometricians.
The Interview
• The interview is a method of gathering information
through direct communication involving reciprocal
exchange.
• Interviews vary as to their purpose, length and nature.
• The quality of information obtained in an interview
often depends on the skills of the interviewer (e.g. their
pacing, rapport, and their ability to convey genuineness,
empathy, and humor)
Other Tools of Psychological Assessment
• The Portfolio: A file containing the products of one’s
work. May serve as a sample of one’s abilities and
accomplishments.
• Case History Data: Information preserved in records,
transcripts, or other forms.
• Behavioral Observation: Monitoring the actions of
people through visual or electronic means
• Role-Play Tests: Assessees are directed to act as if they
were in a particular situation. Useful in evaluating
various skills.
Computers as Tools
Computers can assist in test administration, scoring, and
interpretation.
• Scoring may be done on-site (local processing) or at a
central location (central processing).
• Reports may come in the form of a simple scoring
report, extended scoring report, interpretive report,
consultative report, or integrative report.
• Computer Assisted Psychological Assessment (CAPA)
and Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) have allowed for
tailor-made tests with built-in scoring and interpretive
capabilities.
• Assessment is increasingly conducted via the internet.
Advantages of Internet Testing
1) Greater access to potential test-users
2) Scoring and interpretation tends to be quicker.
3) Costs tend to be lower.
4) Facilitates testing otherwise isolated populations and
people with disabilities.
 • Who, What, why, How, and Where?
Who Are the Parties?
The test developer – tests are created for research
studies, publication (as commercially available instruments), or
as modifications of existing tests.
• The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing
covers issues related to test construction and
evaluation, test administration and use, special
applications of tests and considerations for linguistic
minorities.
The test user – Tests are used by a wide range of
professionals
• The Standards contains guidelines for who should be
administering psychological tests but many countries
have no ethical or legal guidelines for test use
The test-taker – Anyone who is the subject of an
assessment or evaluation is a test-taker.
• Test-takers may differ on a number of variables at the
time of testing (e.g. test anxiety, emotional distress,
physical discomfort, alertness, etc.)
Society at large – Test developers create tests to meet
the needs of an evolving society.
• Laws and court decisions may play a major role in test
development, administration, and interpretation.
Other parties - Organizations, companies, and
governmental agencies sponsor the development of tests.
• Companies may offer test scoring and interpretation.
• Researchers may review tests and evaluate their
psychometric soundness.
Educational settings:
Students typically undergo school ability tests and achievement
tests.
Diagnostic tests may be used to identify areas for educational
intervention .
What Types of Settings?
Clinical settings: Includes hospitals, inpatient and outpatient
clinics, private-practice consulting rooms, schools, and other
institutions.
• Assessment tools are used to help screen for or
diagnose behavior problems.
Counseling settings: Includes schools, prisons, and
governmental or privately owned institutions.
• The goal of assessments in this setting is improvements
in adjustment, productivity, or related variable.
Educational settings: Students typically undergo school ability
tests and achievement tests. Diagnostic tests may be used to
identify areas for educational intervention. Educators may also
make informal evaluations of their students.
Geriatric settings: Assessment primarily evaluates cognitive,
psychological, adaptive, or other functioning. At issue is quality
of life.
Business and military settings: Decisions regarding careers of
personnel are made with a variety of achievement, aptitude,
interest, motivational, and other tests.
Government and organizational credentialing: Include
governmental licensing, certification, or general credentialing
of professionals (e.g. attorneys, physicians, and psychologists)
How are Assessments Conducted?
• There are many different methods used.
• Ethical testers have responsibilities before, during, and
after testing.
Obligations include:
• familiarity with test materials and procedures
• ensuring that the room in which the test will be
conducted is suitable and conducive to the testing
• It is important to establish rapport during test
administration. Rapport can be defined as a working
relationship between the examiner and the examinee.
Assessment of People with Disabilities
• The law mandates “alternate assessment” – The
definition of this is up to states or school districts.
• Accommodations need to be made – the adaptation of
a test, procedure, or situation, or the substitution of one
test for another, to make the assessment more suitable
for an assessed with exceptional needs.
Where to go for Information on Tests
• Test catalogues - catalogues distributed by
publishers of tests. Usually brief, and un-critical,
descriptions of tests.
• Test manuals - Detailed information concerning
the development of a particular test and
technical information.
• Reference volumes – reference volumes like the
Mental Measurements Yearbook or Tests in Print
provide detailed information on many tests.
• Journal articles - contain reviews of a test,
updated or independent studies of its
psychometric soundness, or examples of how
the instrument was used in either research or an
applied context.
• Online databases - Educational Resources Information
Center (ERIC) contains a wealth of resources and news
about tests, testing, and assessment. There are
abstracts of articles, original articles, and links to other
useful websites.
• The American Psychological Association (APA) has a
number of databases including PsycINFO, ClinPSYC,
PsycARTICLES, and PsycSCAN.
• Other sources - Directory of Unpublished Experimental
Mental Measures and Tests in Microfiche. Also,
university libraries provide access to online databases
such as PsycINFO and full-text articles..