Essentials of Psychological Testing

2014·1.04 MB·English

by  Susana Urbina

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