Psychometrics - SPSY 6334

Question 1

What term describes the differences between two individuals, such as differences in intelligence or personality?

Answer 1

Interindividual differences

Question 2

What term refers to variations within the same person over time, such as changes in cognitive ability due to aging?

Answer 2

Intraindividual differences

Question 3

What statistical measure describes how much scores differ from the mean in a dataset?

Answer 3

Variance

Question 4

What is the name of the statistical measure that quantifies the relationship between two variables and indicates whether they increase or decrease together?

Answer 4

Covariance

Question 5

What type of graph visually represents the relationship between two variables and can show trends such as positive or negative associations?

Answer 5

Scatterplot

Question 6

What is the ideal theoretical distribution in statistics where most scores cluster around the mean, forming a symmetrical bell curve?

Answer 6

Normal distribution

Question 7

What term describes a distribution where scores are unevenly spread, with more scores clustering on one side of the mean?

Answer 7

Skewed distribution

Question 8

What is the statistical measure that standardizes covariance, allowing comparisons across different datasets, and ranges from -1 to +1?

Answer 8

Correlation

Question 9

What statistical transformation expresses how far a raw score is from the mean in standard deviation units, helping in score interpretation?

Answer 9

Z-score

Question 10

What term refers to the process of converting raw scores into a format that is easier to interpret, such as percentile ranks or standardized scores?

Answer 10

Score normalization

Question 11

What scoring method ranks individuals based on the percentage of people they outperformed in a given test?

Answer 11

Percentile rank

Question 12

What term refers to a standardized sample used to establish test norms and interpret individual scores?

Answer 12

Reference sample

Question 13

What sampling method ensures a representative selection of individuals for a test by using random selection techniques?

Answer 13

Probability sampling

Question 14

What type of sampling method does not guarantee representativeness and may introduce bias, such as using a convenience sample?

Answer 14

Nonprobability sampling

Question 15

What is the name of the statistical table that organizes variance and covariance values for multiple variables in a dataset?

Answer 15

Variance-covariance matrix

Question 16

What is the name for test items with only two possible responses, such as ‘true/false’ or ‘yes/no’?

Answer 16

Binary items

Question 17

What term refers to the process of computing a combined score from multiple test items to create an overall measurement?

Answer 17

Composite score

Question 18

What is the statistical technique used to adjust scores when a test’s actual distribution does not match the assumed normal distribution?

Answer 18

Normalization

Question 19

What is the term for an incorrect assumption that all variability in test scores is due to error, ignoring meaningful individual differences?

Answer 19

Common variance fallacy

Question 20

Who is the author of Psychometrics: An Introduction, Fourth Edition, which discusses concepts such as individual differences and test variability?

Answer 20

Furr

Question 21

What term describes the consistency and stability of a measurement tool over time, across raters, and within itself?

Answer 21

Reliability

Question 22

What term refers to any deviation in a test score that does not accurately reflect the true ability or trait being measured?

Answer 22

Measurement Error

Question 23

What is the primary goal of reliability in psychometrics?

Answer 23

Consistency

Question 24

What is the name of the reliability measure that assesses the stability of test scores when the same test is administered at different points in time?

Answer 24

Test-Retest Reliability

Question 25

What term describes the variation in test scores caused by factors like mood, fatigue, and test-taking conditions?

Answer 25

Situational Factors

Question 26

What type of reliability is measured by administering a test to the same group of individuals on two separate occasions and comparing their scores?

Answer 26

Test-Retest Reliability

Question 27

What type of reliability assesses the degree to which different observers or raters agree on their assessments?

Answer 27

Inter-Rater Reliability

Question 28

What type of reliability examines whether two versions of the same test yield similar results?

Answer 28

Parallel-Forms Reliability

Question 29

What type of reliability evaluates how well individual test items correlate with one another to measure the same construct?

Answer 29

Internal Consistency

Question 30

What statistic is commonly used to measure internal consistency?

Answer 30

Cronbach’s Alpha

Question 31

What statistical measure is often used to determine the relationship between two sets of scores in test-retest reliability?

Answer 31

Correlation Coefficient

Question 32

What is the typical minimum acceptable value for Cronbach’s alpha in psychometric assessments?

Answer 32

0.70

Question 33

What statistical measure accounts for agreement between raters while controlling for chance?

Answer 33

Kappa Statistic

Question 34

What correlation coefficient value indicates a very high level of reliability?

Answer 34

0.80 or higher

Question 35

What statistical method is used to assess the consistency of test items within a single administration?

Answer 35

Cronbach’s Alpha

Question 36

What term refers to inconsistencies in how different raters evaluate test responses?

Answer 36

Scoring Inconsistencies

Question 37

What environmental factor can affect test performance and lower reliability?

Answer 37

Distractions

Question 38

What is one major cause of internal inconsistency in a test, leading to poor reliability?

Answer 38

Ambiguous Questions

Question 39

What term refers to variations in test scores caused by differences in test administration conditions?

Answer 39

Environmental Changes

Question 40

What factor, if not properly controlled, can lead to different test scores for the same person across different testing sessions?

Answer 40

Fatigue

Question 41

What is one method for improving reliability that involves adding more questions measuring the same construct?

Answer 41

Increase the Number of Items

Question 42

What is the best way to ensure raters apply consistent evaluation criteria in inter-rater reliability assessments?

Answer 42

Training

Question 43

What technique involves ensuring that all test-takers experience the same testing conditions?

Answer 43

Standardization

Question 44

What should be clearly written to reduce misunderstandings and improve test reliability?

Answer 44

Test Instructions

Question 45

What type of reliability is most useful for tests designed to measure stable traits, such as personality?

Answer 45

Test-Retest Reliability

Question 46

What type of reliability is most important in situations where different graders evaluate subjective responses, such as essay writing?

Answer 46

Inter-Rater Reliability

Question 47

What measure should be used if researchers need to compare two different but equivalent versions of the same test?

Answer 47

Parallel-Forms Reliability

Question 48

What is the main problem with a test that has low reliability?

Answer 48

Inconsistency

Question 49

What kind of reliability would be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a diagnostic tool used in clinical psychology?

Answer 49

Inter-Rater Reliability

Question 50

If an intelligence test produces widely different scores when taken at two different times, what type of reliability is likely low?

Answer 50

Test-Retest Reliability

Question 51

What term describes differences between two people in psychometric analysis?

Answer 51

Interindividual

Question 52

What term refers to differences in a single person over time?

Answer 52

Intraindividual

Question 53

What statistical measure quantifies how much scores differ from one another in a dataset?

Answer 53

Variance

Question 54

What statistical measure describes the average deviation of scores from the mean?

Answer 54

Standard deviation

Question 55

What type of distribution is symmetrical, bell-shaped, and centered around the mean?

Answer 55

Normal

Question 56

What term describes a distribution that is asymmetrical due to a concentration of scores on one side?

Answer 56

Skewed

Question 57

What is the name of the theoretical framework that helps interpret raw test scores?

Answer 57

Interpretive frame of reference

Question 58

What statistical measure shows the degree to which two variables vary together?

Answer 58

Covariance

Question 59

What standardized statistical measure ranges from -1 to +1 and describes the strength of a relationship between two variables?

Answer 59

Correlation

Question 60

What type of visual graph is used to display the relationship between two variables?

Answer 60

Scatterplot

Question 61

What matrix is used to analyze sets of variances and covariances for multiple variables?

Answer 61

Variance-covariance matrix

Question 62

What is the name of a score created by combining multiple test items into one measure?

Answer 62

Composite

Question 63

What is the key downside of covariance as a measure of association?

Answer 63

Unstandardized

Question 64

What does a correlation coefficient of 0 indicate about the relationship between two variables?

Answer 64

None

Question 65

What type of correlation occurs when higher values of one variable are associated with lower values of another?

Answer 65

Negative

Question 66

What is the direct score obtained from a test-taker’s responses?

Answer 66

Raw

Question 67

What statistical transformation expresses scores in terms of standard deviation units?

Answer 67

z-score

Question 68

What is the main advantage of z-scores in interpreting test results?

Answer 68

Standardization

Question 69

What alternative scoring method expresses scores as the percentage of people who scored lower?

Answer 69

Percentile

Question 70

What process adjusts raw scores to fit a theoretical normal distribution?

Answer 70

Normalization

Question 71

What three-step process is used when scores deviate significantly from normality?

Answer 71

Normalization transformation

Question 72

What are the two main ways to determine a percentile rank?

Answer 72

Direct and empirical

Question 73

What type of score is computed when a raw score is converted into a more interpretable format?

Answer 73

Standardized

Question 74

What type of test item has only two possible responses, such as 'true/false'?

Answer 74

Binary

Question 75

What is the mean of a binary item called when converted into a numerical format?

Answer 75

Proportion

Question 76

What statistical measure is used to assess consistency in responses to binary items?

Answer 76

Variance

Question 77

What is the name of the reference group used to establish standard test norms?

Answer 77

Sample

Question 78

What term describes a sample that accurately represents the population being studied?

Answer 78

Representative

Question 79

What sampling method ensures every member of a population has an equal chance of selection?

Answer 79

Probability

Question 80

What is the term for a sampling method that does not guarantee a representative sample?

Answer 80

Nonprobability

Question 81

What is the term used to describe whether a test measures one or several constructs?

Answer 81

Dimensionality

Question 82

What type of test measures only one psychological trait?

Answer 82

Unidimensional

Question 83

What type of test measures multiple psychological traits?

Answer 83

Multidimensional

Question 84

What statistical method is used to identify and understand the number of constructs a test measures?

Answer 84

Factor analysis

Question 85

Which type of factor analysis is used to explore possible underlying structures without a predefined hypothesis?

Answer 85

Exploratory

Question 86

Which type of factor analysis is used to test a specific hypothesis about the structure of data?

Answer 86

Confirmatory

Question 87

What numerical values indicate how strongly each test item is associated with a particular factor?

Answer 87

Loadings

Question 88

What statistic represents the amount of variance that each factor explains in the data?

Answer 88

Eigenvalues

Question 89

What type of rotation assumes that factors are not correlated?

Answer 89

Orthogonal

Question 90

What type of rotation allows factors to be correlated?

Answer 90

Oblique

Question 91

What plot is used to determine the number of factors to retain in exploratory factor analysis?

Answer 91

Scree plot

Question 92

What is achieved when each item loads strongly on one factor and has minimal loadings on others?

Answer 92

Simplicity

Question 93

What rule is often used to decide how many factors to retain based on eigenvalues?

Answer 93

Kaiser

Question 94

Which rotation technique is specifically an orthogonal type that maximizes the variance of squared loadings of a factor?

Answer 94

Varimax

Question 95

Which rotation technique is an oblique type that allows for easier interpretation of factors when they are correlated?

Answer 95

Promax

Question 96

What are the numeric indicators that describe the relationship between test items and factors in factor analysis?

Answer 96

Loadings

Question 97

In the context of factor analysis, what term refers to factors that are uncorrelated with each other?

Answer 97

Orthogonality

Question 98

What is the primary benefit of using confirmatory factor analysis over exploratory factor analysis?

Answer 98

Specificity

Question 99

What visualization helps in recognizing the 'elbow' that indicates the optimal number of factors to retain in exploratory factor analysis?

Answer 99

Scree

Question 100

What term describes the outcome where a factor analysis reveals clearly which items belong to which factor?

Answer 100

Structure