Psychological Assessment

(4: Of Tests and Testing)

Assumptions about Psychological Testing and

Assessment
Source: Cohen & Swerdlik (2018)

Assumption 1: Psychological Traits and ★ Definition of Trait and State

States Exist also refers to a way in which
one individual varies from
Trait - any distinguishable, relatively another.
enduring way in which one individual
varies from another. Assumption 2: Psychological Traits and
States can be Quantified and
- What makes us different. Measured
- Characteristic patterns of
thinking, feeling, and behaving ★ Once Trait, State, or other
that generalize across similar construct has been defined to
situations, differ systematically be measured, a test developer
between individuals, and considers the types of item
remain rather stable across content that would provide
time. insight into it, to gauge the
- Is not expected to be strength of that trait.
manifested in behavior 100% of
the time. Cumulative Scoring - the assumption
- Situation-dependent. that the more the test taker responds
● Psychological Trait - in a particular direction keyed by the
intelligence, specific intellectual test manual as correct or consistent
abilities, cognitive style, with a particular trait, the higher that
adjustment, interests, attitudes, test taker is presumed to be on the
sexual orientation and targeted ability or trait.
preferences, psychopathology,
Assumption 3: Test-Related Behavior
etc.
Predicts Non-Test-Related Behavior
- Exist only as a construct.
★ The tasks in some tests mimic
State - distinguish one person from
the actual behaviors that the
another but are relatively less
test user is attempting to
enduring.
understand.
- More changing. ★ Such tests only yield a sample
- Identify those behaviors that of the behavior that can be
can be controlled by expected to be emitted under
manipulating the situation. non-test conditions.

Construct - an informed, scientific Assumption 5: Test and Other

concept developed or constructed to Measurement Techniques have
explain a behavior, inferred from Strengths and Weaknesses
overt behavior.
Error - refers to something that is
Overt Behavior - an observable action more than expected; it is the
or the product of an observable component of the measurement
action. process.
 Psychological Assessment
(4: Of Tests and Testing)

Assumptions about Psychological Testing and

Assessment
Source: Cohen & Swerdlik (2018)

- Refers to a long-standing - A good test is one that trained

assumption that factors other examiners can administer,
than what a test attempts to score, and interpret with a
measure will influence minimum difficulty.
performance on the test. - Reliable and Valid.
● Error Varience - the component
of a test score attributable to Norms
sources other than the trait or
Norm-Referenced Testing and
ability measured.
Assessment - method of evaluation
- Potential sources of
and a way of deriving meaning from
Variance:
test scores by evaluating an individual
1. Assessors
test taker’s score and comparing it to
2. Measuring
scores of a group test takers.
instruments
3. Random errors Norms - usual, average, normal,
such as luck standard, expected, or typical.
Classical Test Theory - each test taker - Test performance data of a
has true score on a test that would be particular group of test takers
obtained but for the action of that are designed for use as a
measurement error. reference when evaluating or
interpreting individual test
Assumption 6: Testing and Assessment
scores.
can be conducted in a Fair and
● Age Norms - average
Unbiased Manner
performance of different
★ Despite best efforts of many samples of test takers
professionals, fairness-related who were at various
questions and problems do ages at the time the test
occasionally rise. was administered.
● Grade Norms -
Assumption 7: Testing and Assessment developed by
Benefit Society administering the test to
representative samples
★ Considering the many critical of children over a range
decisions that are based on of consecutive grade
testing and assessment levels.
procedures, we can readily ● National Norms - derived
appreciate the need for tests. from a normative sample
that was nationally
Good Test - includes clear instructions
representative of the
for administration, scoring, and
population at the same
interpretation; offered economy in the
time norming study was
time and money it took to administer,
conducted.
score, and interpret; and measures
what it purports to measure.
 Psychological Assessment
(4: Of Tests and Testing)

Assumptions about Psychological Testing and

Assessment
Source: Cohen & Swerdlik (2018)

● Local Norms - provide 1. Simple Random Sampling -

normative information every element in the population
with respect to the local has an equal chance of being
population’s selected as part of the sample.
performance on some 2. Systematic Sampling - every
test. nth item or person after is
picked. Researcher can choose
Normative Sample - group of people the interval at which items are
whose performance on a particular picked.
test is analyzed for reference in 3. Stratified Sampling - random
evaluating the performance of selection within predefined
individual test takers. groups. More risk of bias due to
stratifying.
Norming - process of deriving norms.
4. Cluster Sampling - groups
User Norms or Program Norms - rather than individual units of
consists or descriptive statistics based the target population are
on a group of test takers in a given selected randomly.
period of time rather than norms
> Non-Probability Sampling -
obtained by formal sampling methods.
researchers pick items or individual
Standardization - the process of based on their research goals or
sdministering a test to a knowledge.
representative sample of test takers
1. Convenience Sampling -
for the purpose of establishing norms.
selected based on their
- After obtaining sample for availability.
standardization, the test 2. Quota Sampling - achieve a
developer will administer the spread across the target
test according to the standard population by specifying who
set of instructions that will be should be recruited for a survey
used with the test and also according to certain groups or
describe the recommended criteria.
setting for giving the test. 3. Purposive Sampling - chosen
consciously based on their
Sample - a portion of the universe of knowledge and understanding
people that represents the whole of the research question at
population. hand or their goals.
4. Snowball or Referral Sampling -
Sampling - process of selecting people recruited to be part of a
sample. sample are asked to invite
- Subgroups: those they know to take part,
who are then asked to invite
> Probability Sampling - random their friends, family, and so on.
sampling, randomization is used to
select samples.
 Psychological Assessment
(4: Of Tests and Testing)

Assumptions about Psychological Testing and

Assessment
Source: Cohen & Swerdlik (2018)

Percentile - an expression of the

percentage of people whose score on
a test or measure falls before a
particular raw score.

Fixed Reference Group Scoring

System - the distribution of scores
obtained on the test from one group
of test takers (fixed reference group).

Criterion-Referenced Tests and

Assessment - method of evaluation
and a way of deriving meaning from
test scores by evaluating an
individual’s score with reference to a
set standard (criterion).

Domain- or Content-Referenced
Testing and Assessment - how scores
relates to a particular content are or
domain.