The Mental Measurement Yearbook and substance abuse assessment instruments

Psychological Tests Using the Mental Measurement Yearbook

Over several decades of development, tests have been playing essential roles in decisions made by people and decisions about other individuals, institutions and agencies. One should select a test vigilantly in order to achieve definite results. The most recommendable testing instrument is the mental measurement yearbook (MMY) reviews. Prior to its adoption, MMY reviews should be one part of an individual's comprehensive test evaluation. Additionally, committee of experts/persons should cautiously evaluate and examine it. Thereafter, selecting persons who will interpret and use the test results obtained.

The first development and production (publication) of the Mental Measurement Yearbook was in 1938 by Oscar K. Buros; currently, the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements (University of Nebraska). It provides users with an ample guide up to over 2,600 contemporary testing instruments, especially to consumers and experienced professionals.

The MMY series encompasses essential information for wide-ranging evaluation of test products in diverse areas such as education, psychology, leadership and business. Every MMY entry holds descriptive information such as test purpose, pricing, publisher, as well as edited reviews. In addition, the Tests in Print (TIP), produced at the University of Nebraska (the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements), serves as an all-inclusive bibliography to diverse commercial tests, which are presently in print form in English language. Unfortunately, there is a limitation in the number of the populace who can utilize the Mental Measurement Yearbook with Tests in Print simultaneously since the test has a fixed maximum number of users, beyond which, an additional user may not enter.

1. Psychometric Properties

Substance Abuse Questionnaire (SAQ)-Adult Probation III.

Purpose: The SAQ-Adult Probation's designation is for assessment of the parole risks and needs, as well as the adult probation.

Population: The parolees and adult probationers.

Date of Publication: 1986-1998.

Acronyms: SAQ-AP.

Score Scales: Alcohol, drugs, aggressiveness, resistance, truthfulness, stress-coping abilities, antisocial, violence.

Time: 35 minutes.

Administration: Group.

Comments: The scoring includes both paper-pencil formats and computer version, involving the use of IBM-PC Compatibles for scoring, alongside the audio (human voice) administration options that are available.

Authors (s): Risk & Needs Assessment Group.

Publisher: Risk and Needs Assessment, Inc.

Cross Reference: Review by Toneatto Tony 12338

Description

The SAQ-Adult Probation III is a test consisting of 165 items, administered by either computer or paper and pencil. The items are of section type (multiple choice or predominant true/false). The drugs, alcohol, stress coping, aggressiveness, violence, antisocial and truthfulness generate recommendations and risk levels (Nitko, 1998). Additionally, the scale of truthfulness is useful in the identification of test-takers who endeavor to conceal or minimize their problems. The computer generated scoring procedure generates an on-site test results, enclosing the printed reports. The basis of percentile score is on the overall number of items that indicate problems as endorsed by the test-taker. The scale definitions provided are relatively vague and brief.

If not all then almost all the items involved in this test are framed in the adverse direction; consistent with the item points towards the problem existence or intervention need. According to Nitko (1998), the evidences of reliability estimates, in support of this instrument are generally lacking, that is, the evidence supporting the validity of SAQ is limited. The reviewer of this test points out that people phrase the items involved in a way that leads to under-reporting of substance abuse on this scale. In response, the publisher strives to compensate for the creation of "truth-correction" scale scores (Risk & Needs Assessment Group, 1986). However, the reviewer clarifies that the publisher did not defend or explain the validity of doing so. This means that the reviewer's perception on the evidence provided by the publisher is that there is limited evidence to support the validity of using the scores on SAQ-III. The reliability of internal consistency tells how consistent the clients may be from one item to another, within every SAQ scales. Nevertheless, this reliability does not reveal whether the clients' scores are consistent over a number of days or not. On the sense of balance, the SAQ drops far much short of the mark. Insufficiency of reliability and the validity of evidence prevail to the confirmation or consistency of the test's recommendation.

2. Psychometric Properties

Woodcock-Johnson III Diagnostic Reading Battery (DRB).

Purpose: The Woodcock-Johnson III Diagnostic Reading Battery's designation is for assessment and measurement of the important dimensions of phonological oral language abilities and phonological awareness, both in adult and children.

Population: Both adults and children (age of 3-80 years).

Date of Publication: 2004.

Acronym(s): WJ III (DRB).

Score Scales: Reading Comprehension, Basic Reading Skills, Phonics Knowledge, Broad Reading, Brief Reading, Total Reading, Reading Fluency, Spelling of Words, Oral Comprehension, Reading Vocabulary.

Time: 50-60 minutes.

Administration: Individual.

Author (s): Fredrick, S.A., Nancy, M. & Woodcock, R.C.

Publisher: Riverside Publishing, Inc.

Comments: Software Scoring and Paper-and-Pencil.

Sub-tests: Passage Comprehension, Word-Letter Identification, Sound Awareness, Spelling of Sounds, Oral Vocabulary, Sound Blending.

Related Review: 1713318.

Description

MSCA has been one of the best tests ever produced to measure and assess children's intelligence and abilities. Longitudinal studies on this test elicit that MSCA is functional in the evaluation of early interventional effects of children's development worldwide. The study reveals that children from different demographics and contexts pursue substantial cognitive, health, behavioral, and schooling gains from the interventions of early childhood (McCarthy, 1982). One of the subsequent study reviews used the MSCA scale to demonstrate the beneficial effects of parental cognitive inspiration and the emotional support to their children's cognitive abilities. Nevertheless, the reviewer compromises the validity of this test, in that; it measures much of the cognitive abilities rather than children's intelligence.

This test has been useful in the evaluation of nutritional supplement effects provided to nursing mothers to develop their nursing infants, realize the effects of air pollution on a child's cognitive developments, as well as the early intervention effects on the infant's pattern of development. Generally, the psychometric scale properties are appealingly admirable, with factorial validity evidence and predictive validity (Schultz & Duane, 2009). On the other hand, the reliability coefficients in the overall cognitive index tend range in 90s, and the validity data extremely encourages.