Table Of Content

Contents Page: vii Series Preface Page: ix Preface to the Second Edition Page: xi Acknowledgments Page: xiii One: Introduction to Psychological Tests and Their Uses Page: 1 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS Page: 1 Other Terms Used in Connection With Tests and Test Titles Page: 4 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AS TOOLS Page: 5 Testing Standards and Guidelines Page: 6 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AS PRODUCTS Page: 6 HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Page: 8 Antecedents of Modern Testing in the Occupational Realm Page: 9 Antecedents of Modern Testing in the Field of Education Page: 9 Antecedents of Modern Testing in Clinical Psychology Page: 10 Antecedents of Modern Testing in Scientific Psychology Page: 11 The Rise of Modern Psychological Testing Page: 12 OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Page: 16 Standardized Testing in Educational Settings Page: 16 Personnel Testing and Vocational Guidance Page: 18 Clinical Testing Page: 19 CURRENT USES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS Page: 22 Decision Making Page: 22 Psychological Research Page: 23 Self-Understanding and Personal Development Page: 24 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT VERSUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Page: 24 Steps in the Assessment Process Page: 25 TEST USER QUALIFICATIONS Page: 26 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT TESTS Page: 30 Internet Resources Page: 30 Print Resources Page: 33 Two: Essential Statistics for Testing Page: 37 MEASUREMENT Page: 38 VARIABLES AND CONSTANTS Page: 38 THE MEANING OF NUMBERS Page: 40 Nominal Scales Page: 41 Ordinal Scales Page: 42 Interval Scales Page: 43 Ratio Scales Page: 44 Why Is the Meaning of Numbers Relevant to Psychological Testing? Page: 44 What Can We Conclude About the Meaning of Numbers in Psychological Measurements? Page: 47 TYPES OF STATISTICS Page: 47 Descriptive Statistics Page: 48 Numerical Description of Data Page: 49 The Importance of Variability Page: 53 THE NORMAL CURVE MODEL Page: 55 Definition Page: 55 Properties of the Normal Curve Model Page: 55 USES OF THE NORMAL CURVE MODEL Page: 58 Descriptive Uses Page: 58 Inferential Uses of the Normal Curve Model Page: 58 Estimating Population Parameters Page: 59 Nonnormal Distributions Page: 62 ESSENTIALS OF CORRELATION AND REGRESSION Page: 65 Linear Correlation Page: 66 Scatterplots Page: 68 The Discovery of Regression Page: 68 CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS Page: 70 Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient Page: 72 CONCLUSION Page: 78 Three: Essentials of Test Score Interpretation Page: 81 RAW SCORES Page: 81 FRAMES OF REFERENCE FOR TEST SCORE INTERPRETATION Page: 82 NORM-REFERENCED TEST INTERPRETATION Page: 83 Developmental Norms Page: 83 Within-Group Norms Page: 86 Scores Used for Expressing Within-Group Norms Page: 91 INTERTEST COMPARISONS Page: 103 Equating Procedures Page: 105 Item Response Theory (IRT) Page: 108 Test Revisions Page: 109 CRITERION-REFERENCED TEST INTERPRETATION Page: 113 Varieties of Criterion-Referenced Test Interpretation Page: 113 Testing Knowledge of Content Domains Page: 115 Performance Assessment Page: 117 Predicting Performance Page: 119 Relationship Among the Frames of Reference Page: 120 Criterion-Referenced Test Interpretation in Clinical Assessment Page: 122 Item Response Theory as a Basis for Combining Frames of Reference Page: 122 Social Considerations in Norm- and Criterion-Referenced Testing Page: 123 Four: Essentials of Reliability Page: 127 TRUTH AND ERROR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT Page: 128 The Concept of the True Score in Individual Data Page: 128 True Scores in Group Data Page: 129 THE RELATIVITY OF RELIABILITY Page: 130 A Note About Truth and Error Page: 131 SOURCES OF ERROR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Page: 132 Interscorer Differences Page: 134 Time Sampling Error Page: 134 Content Sampling Error Page: 136 Interitem Inconsistency Page: 140 Content Heterogeneity Page: 140 Time Sampling and Content Sampling Error Combined Page: 145 RELIABILITY IN TEST USE Page: 146 Reliability Considerations in Test Selection Page: 146 Evaluation of Error From Multiple Sources Page: 149 The Item Response Theory Approach to Reliability Page: 151 RELIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN TEST INTERPRETATION Page: 152 Quantifying Error in Test Scores: The Standard Error of Measurement Page: 152 Interpreting the Significance of Differences Between Scores Page: 155 The Relationship Between Reliability and Validity Page: 160 CONCLUSION Page: 161 Five: Essentials of Validity Page: 165 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON VALIDITY Page: 167 The Classic Definition of Validity Page: 168 CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON VALIDITY Page: 172 The Integrative Function of Constructs in Test Validation Page: 172 SOURCES OF VALIDITY EVIDENCE Page: 176 Evidence Based on Test Content Page: 177 Evidence Based on Response Processes Page: 184 Evidence Based on Internal Structure Page: 185 Evidence Based on Relations to Other Variables Page: 194 Consequences of Testing Page: 226 CONCLUDING COMMENTS Page: 228 Six: Essential Test Item Considerations Page: 233 THE CONTEXT OF ITEM ANALYSIS: TEST DEVELOPMENT Page: 235 Steps in the Test Development Process Page: 236 TEST ITEM TYPES Page: 239 Selected-Response Items Page: 240 Constructed-Response Items Page: 244 CLASSICAL METHODS OF ITEM ANALYSIS Page: 246 Quantitative Methods of Item Analysis Page: 247 Item Difficulty Page: 247 Item Validity Page: 253 Combining Item Difficulty and Item Discrimination Page: 258 ITEM RESPONSE THEORY Page: 260 Classical Test Theory Versus Item Response Theory Page: 262 Essential Features of Item Response Theory Page: 265 Item Fairness Page: 272 Qualitative Analysis of Item Bias Page: 273 Quantitative Analysis of Item Bias Page: 274 Assessing Differential Item Functioning Page: 275 EXPLORATIONS IN ITEM DEVELOPMENT AND SCORING Page: 276 Recent Developments in Item Generation Page: 276 Automated Scoring Page: 277 Seven: Essentials of Ethical Test Use Page: 279 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ETHICAL USE OF TESTS Page: 279 Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing Page: 280 Additional Resources Page: 281 ESSENTIALS OF TEST SELECTION Page: 284 To Use or Not to Use (Psychological Tests), That Is the (First) Question Page: 284 Test Utility Page: 287 Other Assessment Tools Page: 292 Searching for and Evaluating Tests Page: 295 ESSENTIALS OF TEST ADMINISTRATION AND SCORING Page: 298 Preparing the Testing Environment Page: 298 Preparing the Test Taker Page: 299 Preparation of the Examiner Page: 304 Test Administration in the Digital Age Page: 306 ESSENTIALS OF TEST SCORE INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING Page: 310 A Particular Perspective on Test Interpretation Page: 311 Communicating Test Results and Assessment Findings Page: 314 Safeguarding Test Data Page: 318 CONCLUSION Page: 318 Appendix A: Commercially Available Tests Mentioned in the Text Page: 323 Appendix B: Internet Addresses of Test Publishers and Distributors Page: 327 Appendix C: Table of Areas and Ordinates of the Normal Curve Page: 329 References Page: 343 Index Page: 363 About the Author Page: 385 End User License Agreement Page: a

Description:

What are psychological tests? What ethical issues are involved in the use of psychological testing? How are psychological testing and psychological assessment related? This engagingly written guide answers these questions and supplies the information needed to administer, evaluate, and understand tests. Starting with a basic introduction to psychological tests, their historical development, and their uses, Essentials of Psychological Testing covers the statistical procedures most frequently used in testing, the frames of reference for score interpretation, reliability, validity, and test item considerations, as well as guidelines for test selection, administration, scoring, and reporting test results. In addition, each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as "Test Yourself" questions that help to gauge and reinforce readers' grasp of the information covered. This new edition: Incorporates changes from the revised Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. Includes updated examples using the most recent versions of tests. Provides discussion of new important test administration technologies such as the Q-Interactive.