...Psychological Testing Tabitha Taney PSY/475 September 18, 2013 Maggie Boone Psychological Testing There are tests of every type that most people will have to take throughout their lives. There are driving tests, tests to get into college, tests in all varieties of schools and even in the workplace, when being hired or promoted. There are also tests in the world of psychology, including testing in schools and the workplace. Psychological testing will be defined, with a few different varying descriptions from a few sources, since there is not just one definition for this type of test. The major categories of tests will be described and the major uses and users of these tests will be identified. The concepts of reliability and validity will be compared and contrasted, and how they both impact the field of psychological testing will be discussed. Definition of the term “test” “The glossary of the authoritative Standards for Educational and Psychology Tests,” according to our textbook, “says that a test is an evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee’s behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored...
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...Psychological Testing PSY/475 Psychological Testing In this paper the subject is to summarize the major assumptions and fundamental questions associated with psychological testing. The author begins by defining the term test. Next, the author describes the major categories of tests and identifies the major uses and users of these tests. Last the paper compares and contrasts the concepts of reliability and validity and discusses how they affect the field of psychological testing. The Standards for Education and Psychological Testing defines test as, “An evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee’s behavior (is) evaluated and scored using a standardized process” (Hogan, 2007, pg. 38). Anastasi and Cronbach, both traditional textbook authors, define the term test as, “an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior” and “a systematic procedure for observing behavior and describing it with the aid of numerical scales or fixed categories” (Hogan, 2007, pg. 38). In psychology, tests are used to make important decisions about an individual. Testing samples a person’s behavior, creates a standardized measure, and contributes in making important decisions about the individual taking the test. Testing is used in many different areas and is used to sample a person behavior, create a standardize measure, and contribute in making important decisions. For example, college admissions officers consult test score before admitting or rejecting...
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...Psychological Testing in the Workplace Introduction Companies use psychological testing in delivering an enormous amount of information for future employee candidates as well as present employees within the company. There are different types of psychological testing that employers use to determine who is well fitted as a new hire as those same tests will be administered to retain current employees. The three that will be addressed in this paper will be characteristics, knowledge and skills, and personality testing. The level of degree deemed to be useful depends of the validity and reliability of these psychological tests. Each company would face the legal and ethical issues that may be implicated administering these types of tests. 3 Types of Psychological Testing Many types of tests are available and can assess hundreds of individual characteristics. The course of nature for the characteristic of interest aids in determining which test should be administered. Characteristics of test have four subcategories are as follows: group versus individually administered tests, close-ended versus open-ended, paper and pencil versus performance, and power versus speed tests (Spector, 2012). A group test can be administered to several people at once. An individual test is one that is given to one single examinee. Closed-ended tests the examinee must choose one from several answer choices. An open-ended exam the examinee comes up with a response as a whole rather than choosing...
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...Running Header: Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper Thomas Hagenbuch University of Phoenix PSY/475 When looking at the field of testing there are many assumptions and questions that are looked at. Psychologists, no matter what tests they are looking at have to realize what assumptions they are making about the material or the test taker. If either one of these assumptions aren’t looked at or studied, then it is possible that the psychologists might make a mistake that could ruin their research. Through this course it will be explained the different assumption and questions that psychologists look at during their research. Psychological Tests “Psychological tests are written, visual, or verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functioning of children and adults. Psychological tests are used to assess a variety of mental abilities and attributes, including achievement and ability, personality, and neurological functioning” (Psychological Tests, 2012). Some examples of psychological tests include; mental ability, achievement, personality, interests and attitudes, and neurological. Some of the context that these tests include; clinical, educational, research, and personal. Within these tests it is crucial that the information provided to individuals is true and accurate (or valid and reliable). Achievement Tests According to The Free Dictionary (2012), for...
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...Introduction to Psychological Testing Andrea K. Clark 06/15/2015 PSY/475 Introduction to Psychological Testing The goal of this paper is the summarization of key suppositions and basic questions related to psychological testing. A definition of the term ‘test’ shall be provided, as well as explanations of the main test types and identification of the chief users and usages of these tests. Additionally, there shall be a discussion of a comparison and contrast of reliability and validity beliefs and how they influence psychological testing. Definition of Test The definition of a test is “a critical examination, observation, or evaluation” that generates information (Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2015). Tests are utilized to identify, characterize or measure an individual’s or group’s knowledge, intellect, skills, capabilities or aptitudes. In the psychological fields, tests are assessment tools that standardize these characterizations, measurements, and identifications. Psychological tests are “a systematic procedure for observing behavior and describing it with the aid of numerical scales or fixed categories” (Hogan, 2007, p. 39). Main Test Types, Chief Usages, and Users According to Hogan (2007), “we classify tests into five major categories: mental ability, achievement, personality, interests, and neuropsychological tests, with several subdivisions within some of the major categories” (p. 41). There are also different test classification methods: standardized, non-standardized...
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...Psychological Testing in the Workplace Tamara Walker PSY 435 October 17, 2011 Christopher Reid Psychological Testing in the Workplace With companies faced with an increasingly competitive business environment, employers are turning to I/O psychologists for employment testing as a way to improve his or her work environment. In a survey recently taken, 40% of Fortune 100 companies stated that his or her employment selection systems included some form of psychological testing by an I/O psychologist (Shaffer & Schmidt, 1999). A similar survey that was taken by the American Management Association showed 44% of its responding applicants used testing to select his or her potential employees (Shaffer & Schmidt, 1999). While the most commonly used form of psychological testing in the workplace is the cognitive ability tests, personality tests are also being used more and more frequently. Psychological Tests A psychological test is a series of standardized problems or questions that assess a certain individual characteristic. Tests are commonly used to assess many KSAOs, including knowledge, skill, ability, attitudes, interests, and personality (Spector, 2008). There are three types of psychological tests used in the workplace to help differentiate between those used for pre-employment or retention. Essentially pre-employment is called the "recruiting radar." These tests are ability tests, personality tests, and emotional intelligence tests (Spector, 2008). Ability...
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...Psychological Testing Janice Watson PSY 475 June 19, 2015 Shirley Wilson Psychological Testing Introduction This paper will discuss the major assumptions and fundamental questions of psychological testing. It will define what testing it, describe the major categories of test, their uses and who uses these tests. It will also compare and contrast reliability and validity and how they affect psychological testing. Test There are various ways in which an individual can define test. A test is a system for accomplishing something such as observing behavior and illustrating it with the help of numerical scales or prearranged categories (Hogan, 2007). There are common elements between “tests". They test some procedure or device that bring forth information. The procedure or device gives information about some behavior, and the test are a systematic, standardized procedure (Hogan, 2007). Another definition of psychological testing is that they are a written, verbal, or visual assessment done to determine the cognitive and emotional activity of individuals (Health, 2015). Just because there are many ways to define test does not mean each answer is wrong. It depends on the subject matter at hand and how the individual chooses to define it. Categories of Test There are five major categories of test that include personality, interests and attitudes, achievement test, neuropsychological, and mental ability tests (Hogan, 2007). The personality test includes many...
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...Psychological Testing Paper Brandy N. Dean University of Phoenix Introduction: Testing in the World of Psychology Within the boundaries of modern psychology the term test has many different meanings to all the different disciplines. Across the many subspecialties, testing methods vary due to the circumstances or said patient’s mental health records. To truly explore the depth and meaning of psychological testing there is a veritable plethora of items in need of exploring. The following study will focus on the definition of testing with context pertaining specifically to the science of studying the inner workings of the human mind. Defining Test: Psychological Focus At its root the definition of the word test has a simple explanation. As defined by Merriam-Webster, within the context required, a test is a series of questions or exercises for measuring the skill, knowledge, intelligence, capacities, or aptitudes of an individual or group (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Within the bounds of psychology though, the definition becomes exponentially more complex. Psychology uses a plethora of different tests designed to elicit a variety of results. Defining testing in the aforementioned field is a bit more difficult than the traditional meaning of the word. Psychological tests are used to diagnose some of the most elusive disorders in the medical field. To make understanding these psychological tests easier, they have been broken down into separate categories for the sake of simplification...
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...Introduction to Psychological Testing Megan Szopinski PSY/475 April 13, 2015 Dennis Plunkett Abstract Within this essay there will be information providing the following; the psychological testing definition of the word ‘test', the major categories of psychological test, the uses and users of each, and the difference and similarities of reliability and validity. The information provided will give you a good idea of what test should be used for and who would administer that particular test. There will also be an example of how a test can be reliable but not valid. For an experiment to have an accurate test, the test needs to have reliability and validity. Introduction to Psychological Testing Psychological testing is crucial when it comes to measuring how and why humans behave in certain ways. Choosing the correct test for the right experiment is also important. There are some major assumptions and fundamental questions that relate to psychological testing. The main ones are (a) defining the term test, (b) describing the major categories of test and who uses them or users of them, and (c) reliability and validity and how affect psychological testing. Throughout this paper, we will discuss the assumptions and questions related to psychological testing. Defining the Term ‘Test’ Most of us have taken a test of some sort throughout our lives. Sometimes we may think to ourselves "why do we need to take another test" or "I am horrible at test, but I do know the information"...
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.... . . . . . . . . . assessment report Administration Practices for Standardized Assessments . . Sasha Zucker With assistance from: Margarita Galindo Elaine Grainger Nancy Severance . . . . . . . . April 2004 Copyright © 2004 by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved. Pearson and the Pearson logo are trademarks of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). . . . . . . . . . ASSESSMENT REPORT Administration Practices for Standardized Assessments Administration Practices for Standardized Assessments Note: This report is based on “Appropriate Administration Practices with Standardized Tests” published in Testing Information Bulletin No. 3 by Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement, June 1996. Introduction Pearson Inc. (Pearson) develops and distributes a variety of assessments for educational and clinical purposes. To meet the goal of producing highly valid, reliable results for test users, each of these products is developed according to strict guidelines. For standardized tests, the way in which the test is administered is equally important. By carefully adhering to administration practices, a test user can contribute to the validity and reliability of each student’s results. Moreover, following appropriate administration practices satisfies widely accepted ethical standards and codes of responsibilities required for test administrators. This report discusses general and documented administration practices...
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...Introduction to Psychological Testing Aryne F. Levine PSY/475 May 24, 2012 Glenn Leighbody Introduction to Psychological Testing The term test is a difficult term to define. There are several major categories and sub- categories of assessments. The major categories of assessments relate to the type of examination. The sub-categories of assessments relate to the manner in which the assessment is taken. Assessments can be used for a wide variety of purposes in the professional, military, and educational worlds. The validity and reliability of a test affect the overall purpose of the test. Human error and individuality can affect the reliability and validity of psychological assessments. Definition of the Term Test The term test is defined as an analytical assessment, examination, or appraisal that is used to measure the abilities, understanding, intellect, proficiencies, or skills of an individual or group (Merriam-Webster, 2012). There are many major and minor categories of tests. The five major test categories are: The five main categories of psychological tests are: mental ability tests, achievement tests, personality assessments, interest and attitude assessments, and neuropsychological tests. The minor categories of tests are: performance, paper and pencil, power, speed, individual, group, maximum performance, typical performance, norm-referenced, and criterion referenced examinations. Separating examinations...
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...Journal Adejumo, G. O. (2011) Impact of Family Type on Involvement of Adolescents in Pre-Marital Sex International Journal of Psychology and Counselling. Vol.3 (1). Pp.15-19 http://www.academicjournals.org/ijpc/abstracts. Abstract This study examined the impact of home type on involvement of in-school adolescents in premarital sex in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. This study adopted a survey research design. Three hundred and sixty-eight students from four secondary schools were randomly selected, 128 or 47.8% were males and 148 or 53% were females. Their ages range from 16-19years with the mean of 18.24years. Only 186 or 69% have had sexual intercourse and 94 of them had only one sex partner while 92 had more than one sex partner. Two research instruments were developed for this study-Attitude towards Pre marital Sex Scale (ATPSS) and Parent Involvement Questionnaire (PIQ). The findings revealed a significant effect of home type in prediction of adolescents’ involvement in premarital sex at r=.569, r2 =.347, f (1,218) = 56.47 and <.05 significant level. There was a significant difference significant difference in involvement in premarital sex between adolescents from single parent and intact homes at X2-observed=22.46, 1degree of freedom and p <0.05. It was concluded that parental involvement is paramount in adolescents’ premarital sexual behaviour. It was recommended that government, religious bodies and individuals should uphold the sacred institution of marriage for wellbeing...
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...PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING ACHIEVEMENT TESTS BY DR UCHENNA UDEANI DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS AKOKA, YABA, LAGOS. PAPER PRESENTED AT THE TRAINING PROGRAMME ON IMPROVING THE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION SKILLS OF SCHOOL TEACHERS 11TH -15TH APRIL 2011 1.0 INTRODUCTION The amount of effort involved in constructing an educational test varies with the type of test and the purpose for which it is intended. Most classroom teachers probably spend relatively little or no time in preparing essay or short answer tests for measuring students’ progress in a unit of instruction. The procedures employed in constructing a test also vary with the type of test and the aims of the users. Whatever the kind of test or the goals of the users may be, some content planning is necessary before the items comprising the test are written. 2.0 PURPOSES AND USES OF TESTS The primary purpose of test is to assess behaviour, mental abilities and other personal characteristics in order to assist in making judgements, predictions and decisions about students. More specifically tests are used to * Retain or dismiss, promote and rotate student in education and training programmes. * Evaluate cognitive changes due to educational and other interventions. * Classify and place people in educational and employing contexts. * Counsel and guide individuals for educational, vocational and personal counselling. * Diagnosis of...
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...examination to determine the correctness of something” (Harper, 2010, Para. 1). According to Hogan, 2007, p. 38) The standards for Educational and Psychological Testing defines test as, “an evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinees’ behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated, and scored using a standardized process.” Furthermore, Hogan stated that a test is a systematic and standardized qualification procedure or device that produces information about behavior, and cognitive processes, and measures a sample of behavior rather than an extensive examination of the variety of individual’s behaviors Describe the major categories of tests and identify the major uses of these tests. The major categories of psychological tests are, mental ability, achievement, personality, interests and attitudes, and neuropsychological tests. Mental ability tests measure cognitive functions, such as intelligence, memory, spatial visualization, and creative thinking. Achievement tests assess capability within certain areas of expertise, and sometimes include assessments of reading, math, science, and social studies, at the same time identify more specific achievement. Personality tests are designed to produce information about personality and are most widely applied of all psychological tests. These tests compare an individual’s responses to different clinical groups for similarity, and sometimes measure depression, eating...
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...PERSONALITY EVALUATION CRITERIA AND TECHNIQUES Introduction 1. Personality is something that we informally evaluate and describe every day. When we talk about ourselves and others, we frequently refer to different characteristics of an individual's personality. Psychologists do the same thing when they evaluate personality, but on a much more systematic and scientific level. Personality testing refers to those techniques that are used accurately and consistently to measure personality. 2. Humans are precious asset for any organization. Recruitment and selection is costly effort in terms of money and time. Personality of employees effects their roles and responsibilities in the organization. The personality pattern has great influence on their work attitude. Evaluations of personality provide a measure of how an individual works with his colleagues, how he approaches towards tasks and change, how he communicates and how he deals with pressures. Differences between people in their behavior and mental approach make them more or less effective in different jobs. For instance, an outgoing person will tend to be more successful in a job that requires frequent interaction with other people. On the other hand, a less outgoing person tends to be more successful in a job that primarily involves independent work. Almost, all organization uses personality evaluations to match an individual’s skills to the job requirements or to find an organization fit person. Such evaluations identified...
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