PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING3. Introduction to Psychological Testing (Part 2)

When do we use Psychological Tests?Educational Setting

Clinical Setting

Job/Employment

Educational SettingIQ tests in SchoolDISCUSS: What is their purpose? Should we continue using them?IQ tests are also used to identify struggling students.

SAT tests for College AdmissionDISCUSS: Are they a good measure of success in college? Are there other factors that should be taken into account?

Clinical SettingDevelopmental DisordersADHD, Autism, OCDThe person who administers these tests must be qualified to interpret the results. DISCUSS the advantages and limitations of this.

Mental HealthDISCUSS: How effective are self-repots in judging mental health?

Neuropsychological testsTo detect brain injury/damage

Job SettingPersonality TestsDISCUSS: How effective are personality tests in judging job performance?

Aptitude Tests

Participants in the Test UseTest Developer & Test Publisher

Test User: They select or decide to take a specific test off the shelf and use it for some purpose.

Test Administrator: They administer the test either to one individual at a time or to groups.

Test Taker: They take the test by choice or necessity.

Test DeveloperWho will be using the test?

How are the items/questions selected (theory, revisions of existing tests)?

How do you assess the suitability of the selected items/questions in the test?

Finally, provide evidence that the Test meets its intended purpose.

Test User/Test AdministratorBe familiar with the testing procedures.

Be at ease in administrating the items of the test.

Know how to score and interpret the results.

Test TakerDetermine that the individual is competent and able to be test, and will not experience stress as a result of testing.Be familiar with the testing procedures.Be at ease in administrating the items of the test.Know how to score and interpret the results.Be aware of legal and ethical information related to administrating the test.

Test TakerInformed consent - Confidentiality, freedom to withdraw, purpose of assessment.ConfidentialityWhere will the data be sored and for how long?Who has access to the Test Results?How long are the results valid for?Who will pay for the testing?Feedback:Will this lead to additional or follow-up services?

Test Use & Test FairnessA test is most likely to be seen as unfair when:1. It is the sole basis for the decision.2. The consequences of doing poorly on the test is harsh

Ways to reduce concerns over test unfairness:1. Multiple assessment procedures2. Use more intensive screening procedures for those likely to be treated unfairly by a given test.

Psychological Testing: An Example

Participants in the Test UseTest Developer: APA President-Yerkes

Test Administrator: They administer the test either to one individual at a time or to groups.US Army

Test Taker: They take the test by choice or necessityArmy Recruits

Intelligence: TestsYerkes test

Velvet Joe appears in advertisements of: a) tooth powderb) dry goodsc) tobaccod) soap

Another question from the analogy section of the test: Washington is to Adams as first is to . . .

Intelligence

Crystallized intelligenceLearned knowledge (Verbal IQ tests)Dependent on educationRemains stable over the lifetime

Fluid intelligence Capacity for deductive reasoningAbility to use new information to solve problemsRelatively independent of educationDeclines in old age

Intelligence Tests: Ravens Matrices

Intelligence: TestsStanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Woodcock-Johnson

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WISC)Verbal scale: TRY IT!Definition of POLICE

Intelligence: Tests

Reliability Yielding reproducible and consistent results

Exceptionally reliable rs in the .90s

Intelligence: TestsValidity : Measuring what it is intended to measureConstruct validity Does the test confirm theory of IQ? Criterion validityDoes the test predict the behavior it is supposed to predict?Face Validity Does the test appear to be appropriate? Content Validity Does the test cover all of the domains to be measured ?

Intelligence: TestsValidity : Measuring what it is intended to measure

Qualified validity40 to .50 with school success r =.60 to .80s with number of years in school Predicts occupational attainment, but not job performance

Intelligence

Psychometric propertiesCompared with other peopleIQ scores distributed normallyBell-shaped curveVery high & low scores are rare68% of people have IQ between 85-115Intelligence quotient (IQ): Now determined from test norms

Expected Distribution of IQ scores

Where does it come from?Heritabilitydegree to which variation in trait stems from genetic, rather than environmental, differences among individualsEnvironmentalitydegree to which variation is due to environmental rather than genetic differences

The Heritability CoefficientSingle number, ranging from 0 to 1.0 Represents amount of trait due to genetic differences 0 means no variance due to genetics1 means all variance due to genetics.30 means 30% is due to genetic differences, 70% due to environmental

Twin Studies & Family InfluenceIf trait genetic:closely related more similar than less closely related

Many close relatives share environments too

Genetic InfluencesThe most genetically similar people have the most similar scores

Family Influence on IQTransient influence of family in which you are raisedadoptive siblings as children and adultsidentical vs. fraternal twins reared together

Historical increase in IQ: Flynn EffectImproved performance on IQ tests over the yearsBig increases in tests assessing fluid intelligence, smallest in factual knowledgeIncreased schooling only accounts for small portion of this increaseDue to changes in the culture?Nutrition vs Cognitive Stimulation

Who cares?US Army

SchoolsDisabilityGiftedness

Intelligence: PROSExtremes of Intelligence Mental Retardation

Diagnosis based on IQ 2 or more SD below mean (score of

Intelligence: PROSExtremes of Intelligence Giftedness

IQ scores in the top 2-3%

Less on creativity, leadership, special talent

Is IQ all you need to be gifted?

Intelligence: CONSLimited assessment of intelligence: does not measure innate abilityMany students with high IQ dont do well in school

Culture bound

Intelligence: CONSDifferences between racial & cultural groupsAmerican Blacks score about 15 points lower than WhitesAmerican Asians score about 10 points higher than Whites

Can IQ Tests be Culture Free?

Intelligence: CONSLimited assessment of intelligence: does not measure innate abilityCulture bound

Not accurate in predicting overall life success

Intelligence: CONSMotivation & intellectual successTermite study1500 boys & girls with IQs > 140

Compared 100 most successful men with 100least successful from this sample

Motivation, not IQ made the difference

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