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Psychology Testing
The Impact and Importance of Psychological Testing
Defining Psychological Testing
A test is defined as a method or procedure for critical evaluation or as a means of establishing the quality, truth, or presence of something. (Webster's Dictionary, 2011). According to the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) and the American Psychological Association (APA) (1999), psychological test or psychological testing is a discipline most frequently characterized by the use of behavior samples in order to assess various psychological constructs such as the emotional and cognitive functioning of individuals. The psychological test itself is an instrument most often designed to measure constructs that are not observed, and often involve a series of problems or tasks that the participant or respondent must solve. These tests can resemble questionnaires; however, what makes psychological tests different is that they require the respondents' maximum cognitive performance (AERA, NCME, APA, 1999).
Major Category of Tests and Primary Users
There are several categories of psychological tests to include intelligence quotient tests, and personality tests subdivided into projective and objective tests, to name a few. Intelligence quotient or IQ tests are designed to measure intelligence during the achievement of examination and purportedly measure the level and use of development and ability. These cognitive evaluations are considered norm referenced as a series of tasks are presented to the individual being evaluated and the responses are graded according to prescribed guidelines against the...
Most often, IQ tests are divided into verbal and non-verbal questions. Some of the more noted IQ test measures include the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (Pearson Assessments, 2009). Observational tests are another means by which psychological assessment is completed, and reportedly is used in the natural observation of person to environment, and person to person interaction.
Personality tests are psychological measures that are most often divided into projective and objective tests. Objective tests most often use an ordinal scale or true false response to gauge the individual testing against a set of criterion or variables. The responses with an objective test, therefore, are much more restricted due to the construction of the examination. Some common objective tests include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Projective personality tests, such as the Rorschach tests, allow the respondent to answer inquiry more freely. There has been much debate amongst scholars and practitioners regarding the use of projective tests as there have been questions historically raised regarding the validity of these kinds of examination (Pearson Assessments, 2009).
Reliability, Validity, and the Impact on Psychological Testing
In order for a psychological test to be useful, it must be valid and reliable (Messick, 1995). Validity of psychological tests refers to the extent to which they measure what they posit to measure. It is the degree to which theory and evidence support…
Bibliography
American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (1999). Standards for educational and Psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.
Cohen, r., & Swerdlik, M. (2009). Psychological testing and assessment. McGraw-Hill.
Meeker, W., & Escobar, L. (1998). Statistical methods for reliability data. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Messick, S. (1995). Validity of psychological assessment: Validation of inferences from person's responses and performances as scientific inquiry into score meaning. American Psychologist, 50, 741-749.
Testing Ethical and Legal Issues Considering the responsibilities and rights of test takers and test users, discuss why it is important to have ethical and legal standards for testing. What knowledge, skills, and abilities are necessary for competent test use? What are the standards regarding confidentiality and privacy of test taker information, test scores, and test interpretation? What do you feel is the most important responsibility of a test user and why?
Psychology of Consumer Behavior Consumer perspectives on the emerging culture of consumption in Singapore b) Introduction The consumption style of consumers alludes to the mental approach or orientation a purchaser has towards settling on decisions. Although purchaser choice making style depicts a consistent trend of affective and cognitive responses, national culture has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual attitudes and values. In this way, culture has a noteworthy impact on consumption
Low Vision Literature Review The impact of low vision on a person's quality of life can be devastating… people with low vision can improve their quality of life through rehabilitation services to teach them how to use their remaining vision more effectively. Using a variety of visual aids may bring them back or help them keep their independence (Kupfer, 1999 as cited in Windsor & Windsor, 2001). Low vision or vision loss
I became the person I am today because of my past, and all the influences that have shaped me, molded me, and impacted my personality and sense of self. Of course, my genetic history is also tied into who I am, impacting my physiological development, which in turn shapes how others see me and respond to me. In my case, I was adopted and have no knowledge of my birth
Of great importance is the position of respondents. On the basis of the questionnaire an experimental design can be drawn, using two groups of subjects: one group consisting of high level positions, maybe people working in Human Resource Management, and the other group being composed of university students or people holding different positions, non-managerial. The hypothesis would be aimed at testing gender stereotypes for higher position and lower position employees.
The interest that has been generated in functional assessment is not something that is new in psychological circles. However, the interest in it was intensified greatly around 1997 because of amendments that were made to the Individuals with Disabilities Act. These particular amendments mandated that personnel at schools conduct functional assessments on any students that had behavioral problems which resulted in being expelled or dismissed, and that these assessments then