Standardization

Reported by: Ella Mae D. Ayen

Standardization… refers to methods used in gathering and

treating subjects for a specific study.  In order to compare the results of one group to the results of a second group.

Standardization of the research methods is often a lengthy process. The same directions must be read to each student, the same questions must be given, and the same amount of time must be assured.

Standardized Test…

Reliability refers to stability or consistency of measurement over time

Validity refers to a test's ability to measure what it is supposed to measure

Norms is the normal or average performance

Standardization Procedures

Experimental control is a basic requirement for any psychological test or experimental procedure. Typically this includes the standardization instruction, administration (including manipulation) and measurement of variables of theoretical interest.

Clear instructions appropriate for the particular population need to be provided. Verbal instruction are necessary, consideration should be given to the rate of speaking, tone of voice, inflections, facial and bodily expression or pauses. A good example of how imprecision in administration can lead to biased results is evident in the testing literature.

In essence, this type of standardization tries to reduce the influence of any extraneous variable on the test or experimental performance of the participants. If procedures are not standard, this will affect the reliability and internal validity and result in biased findings.

Standardization of procedure is often used in context of test development (e.g. time limit, test instruction, item order) than in experimental design. In experimental design, these issues are often discussed under the headings of internal and external validity.

Another important step in the standardization of a test is the establishment of norms. In the process of standardization a test, it is administrated to a large, representative sample of the type of persons for whom it is designed. This group known as the standardization sample serves to establish the norms.

To ensure that all participants have the same experience, researchers should ensure that they are all tested:

• In the same place, with the same equipment and materials placed in the same way.

• Under the same conditions, so the level of lighting, noise and heat remains the same for all participants.

• At roughly the same time of day, as people may behave differently if tested at nine o'clock in the morning rather than five o'clock at night.

• Given identical standardized instructions in exactly the same way.

Standardization of Interpretation

• Scores of psychological tests are often not interpreted in their raw form, but against so called norms. Psychological tests typically have no predetermined standards against which performance of individuals or groups of individuals can be evaluated.

Standardization of Interpretation

• Test scores are compared to some norms that was obtained by applying the same test in a sample supposed to represent the population. Norms can be seen as typical, normal or average performance within the population.