Week 1

Question 1

Psychological test

Answer 1

A procedure in which a sample of behaviour from an individual is obtained, evaluated, & scored using standardized procedures.

Question 2

Behavior

Answer 2

Does the behavior represent something we’re interested in? Because The behavior can be used to infer different things

Question 3

Standardized

Answer 3

also refers to the testing environment

Question 4

Quantitative

Answer 4

that there is a standardized way to score it, we get numbers which allows for precision

Question 5

Reference point

Answer 5

a reference point or a reference to a representative group

Question 6

Quality

Answer 6

All tests need to be evaluated in terms of their psychometric qualities

Question 7

They are a tools

Answer 7

they are a tool only, will help me in making a decision but should not be used in isolation

Question 8

Index hypothetical constructs

Answer 8

like depression, there’s always a gap between the test and the construct

Question 9

Psychological constructs exist

Answer 9

People who use these test make the assumption that these constructs are real ex: intelligence

Question 10

Psychological constructs can be measured

Answer 10

Therefore they can be measured if they exist

Question 11

Although we can measure constructs, measurement is not perfect

Answer 11

we do our best to minimize the error.

Question 12

There are different ways to measure any given construct

Answer 12

There are different ways to measure the same construct, ex: social anxiety. The best assessment is going to include several ways

Question 13

All assessment procedures have strengths & limitations

Answer 13

The person using the test should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses

Question 14

Multiple sources of information should be part of the assessment process

Answer 14

Not to be used in isolation

Question 15

Performance on tests can be generalized to non-test behaviours

Answer 15

A test can say how you might adapt to an academic environment

Question 16

Assessment can provide information that helps psychologists make better professional decisions

Answer 16

Not going to necessarily make us perfect decision makers but will make us better decision makers

Question 17

Assessments can be conducted in a fair manner

Answer 17

Our goal here is to strive for fairness and limit bias – not to say all test are fair, there may be some groups that are disadvantaged

Question 18

Testing and assessment can benefit individuals and society as a whole

Answer 18

Help them to understand

Question 19

Maximal performance

Answer 19

Your success on the task determines your score, ex: driving test.
A performance test = anything other than a self report

Question 20

Behavioral observation

Answer 20

Can examine children’s behavior in the context of a classroom

Question 21

Self report measures often measure

Answer 21

personality

Question 22

Standardized vs. non-standardized

Answer 22

Standardized really means the standardization sample and the data from the sample are the norms, tend to be large in the thousands
So if your test is for 1st year students, you wouldn’t have a standardization sample with 80 year olds

There are many non standardized tests: no explicit norms and no standardization sample
If you match the norms (geographical, age groups) they’re useful, if not they’re not

Question 23

Objective tests

Answer 23

The scoring is objective (not biassed), ex: T or F, circle 1 to 5. The test is not always objective but the scoring is

Question 24

Projective tests

Answer 24

test taker projects their internal states in response to a picture or an incomplete sentence. The scoring is not objective

Question 25

Achievement tests

Answer 25

Measure previous learning in specific academic area What have you learned? Achieved? What material have you mastered?

Question 26

Aptitude tests

Answer 26

Assess individual’s potential for learning or ability to perform in an area not specifically trained in Help determine what “maximum” we can expect from an individual

Question 27

Intelligence tests

Answer 27

Like aptitude tests, assess an individual’s ability to cope with the environment, but at a broader level Modern provides with one overall score based on a wide assortment (math, language, identification).

Question 28

Interest inventories

Answer 28

Assess an individual’s interests in educational programs and careers

Question 29

Personality tests

Answer 29

Measure a stable and enduring trait | Measure human character

Question 30

Decision

Answer 30

Institution: the institution makes the decision to accept you Individual: switch to aviation because you want to

Question 31

Comparative

Answer 31

comparing tests scores to see who has the best score

Question 32

Absolute

Answer 32

seeing who has the minimum score needed to qualify