Essentials of psychological testing
An easy-to-understand overview of the key concepts of psychological testing Fully updated and revised, the second edition of Essentials of Psychological Testing surveys the basic principles of psychometrics, succinctly presents the information needed to understand and evaluate tests, and introduces readers to the major contemporary reference works in the field. This engaging, practical overview of the most relevant psychometric concepts and techniques provides the foundation necessary for advanced study in the field of psychological assessment. Each clear, well-organized chapter includes new examples and references, featuring callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as "Test Yourself" questions that help gauge and reinforce readers' grasp of the information covered. The author's extensive experience and deep understanding of the concepts presented are evident throughout the book, particularly when readers are reminded that tests are tools and that, like all tools, they have limitations. Starting with a basic introduction to psychological tests, their historical development, and their uses, the book also covers the statistical procedures most frequently used in testing, the frames of reference for score interpretation, reliability, validity and test item considerations, as well as the latest guidelines for test selection, administration, scoring and reporting test results. Whether as an orientation for those new to the field, a refresher for those already acquainted with it, or as reference for seasoned clinicians, this book is an invaluable resource.
Bibliographic Information
| Format: | eBook |
|---|---|
| Author: | Urbina, Susana, 1946- |
| Subject: |
Psychological tests Psychometrics |
| Publication Year: | 2014 |
| Language: | English |
| Published: | Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, 2014. |
| ISBN: | 9781118873090 1118873092 9781118707258 1118707257 |
| Series: | Essentials of Behavioral Science Series |
| Notes: | Includes bibliographical references and index. Description based on print version record. Essentials of Psychological Testing -- Contents -- Series Preface -- Preface to the Second Edition -- Acknowledgments -- One: Introduction to Psychological Tests and Their Uses -- PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS -- Other Terms Used in Connection With Tests and Test Titles -- PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AS TOOLS -- Testing Standards and Guidelines -- PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AS PRODUCTS -- HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING -- Antecedents of Modern Testing in the Occupational Realm -- Antecedents of Modern Testing in the Field of Education -- Antecedents of Modern Testing in Clinical Psychology -- Antecedents of Modern Testing in Scientific Psychology -- The Rise of Modern Psychological Testing -- OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING -- Standardized Testing in Educational Settings -- Personnel Testing and Vocational Guidance -- Clinical Testing -- CURRENT USES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS -- Decision Making -- Psychological Research -- Self-Understanding and Personal Development -- PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT VERSUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING -- Steps in the Assessment Process -- TEST USER QUALIFICATIONS -- SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT TESTS -- Internet Resources -- Print Resources -- Two: Essential Statistics for Testing -- MEASUREMENT -- VARIABLES AND CONSTANTS -- THE MEANING OF NUMBERS -- Nominal Scales -- Ordinal Scales -- Interval Scales -- Ratio Scales -- Why Is the Meaning of Numbers Relevant to Psychological Testing? -- What Can We Conclude About the Meaning of Numbers in Psychological Measurements? -- TYPES OF STATISTICS -- Descriptive Statistics -- Numerical Description of Data -- The Importance of Variability -- THE NORMAL CURVE MODEL -- Definition -- Properties of the Normal Curve Model -- USES OF THE NORMAL CURVE MODEL -- Descriptive Uses -- Inferential Uses of the Normal Curve Model -- Estimating Population Parameters -- Nonnormal Distributions. ESSENTIALS OF CORRELATION AND REGRESSION -- Linear Correlation -- Scatterplots -- The Discovery of Regression -- CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS -- Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient -- CONCLUSION -- Three: Essentials of Test Score Interpretation -- RAW SCORES -- FRAMES OF REFERENCE FOR TEST SCORE INTERPRETATION -- NORM-REFERENCED TEST INTERPRETATION -- Developmental Norms -- Within-Group Norms -- Scores Used for Expressing Within-Group Norms -- INTERTEST COMPARISONS -- Equating Procedures -- Item Response Theory (IRT) -- Test Revisions -- CRITERION-REFERENCED TEST INTERPRETATION -- Varieties of Criterion-Referenced Test Interpretation -- Testing Knowledge of Content Domains -- Performance Assessment -- Predicting Performance -- Relationship Among the Frames of Reference -- Criterion-Referenced Test Interpretation in Clinical Assessment -- Item Response Theory as a Basis for Combining Frames of Reference -- Social Considerations in Norm- and Criterion-Referenced Testing -- Four: Essentials of Reliability -- TRUTH AND ERROR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT -- The Concept of the True Score in Individual Data -- True Scores in Group Data -- THE RELATIVITY OF RELIABILITY -- A Note About Truth and Error -- SOURCES OF ERROR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING -- Interscorer Differences -- Time Sampling Error -- Content Sampling Error -- Interitem Inconsistency -- Content Heterogeneity -- Time Sampling and Content Sampling Error Combined -- RELIABILITY IN TEST USE -- Reliability Considerations in Test Selection -- Evaluation of Error From Multiple Sources -- The Item Response Theory Approach to Reliability -- RELIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN TEST INTERPRETATION -- Quantifying Error in Test Scores: The Standard Error of Measurement -- Interpreting the Significance of Differences Between Scores -- The Relationship Between Reliability and Validity -- CONCLUSION. Five: Essentials of Validity -- HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON VALIDITY -- The Classic Definition of Validity -- CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON VALIDITY -- The Integrative Function of Constructs in Test Validation -- SOURCES OF VALIDITY EVIDENCE -- Evidence Based on Test Content -- Evidence Based on Response Processes -- Evidence Based on Internal Structure -- Evidence Based on Relations to Other Variables -- Consequences of Testing -- CONCLUDING COMMENTS -- Six: Essential Test Item Considerations -- THE CONTEXT OF ITEM ANALYSIS: TEST DEVELOPMENT -- Steps in the Test Development Process -- TEST ITEM TYPES -- Selected-Response Items -- Constructed-Response Items -- CLASSICAL METHODS OF ITEM ANALYSIS -- Quantitative Methods of Item Analysis -- Item Difficulty -- Item Validity -- Combining Item Difficulty and Item Discrimination -- ITEM RESPONSE THEORY -- Classical Test Theory Versus Item Response Theory -- Essential Features of Item Response Theory -- Item Fairness -- Qualitative Analysis of Item Bias -- Quantitative Analysis of Item Bias -- Assessing Differential Item Functioning -- EXPLORATIONS IN ITEM DEVELOPMENT AND SCORING -- Recent Developments in Item Generation -- Automated Scoring -- Seven: Essentials of Ethical Test Use -- SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ETHICAL USE OF TESTS -- Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing -- Additional Resources -- ESSENTIALS OF TEST SELECTION -- To Use or Not to Use (Psychological Tests), That Is the (First) Question -- Test Utility -- Other Assessment Tools -- Searching for and Evaluating Tests -- ESSENTIALS OF TEST ADMINISTRATION AND SCORING -- Preparing the Testing Environment -- Preparing the Test Taker -- Preparation of the Examiner -- Test Administration in the Digital Age -- ESSENTIALS OF TEST SCORE INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING -- A Particular Perspective on Test Interpretation. Communicating Test Results and Assessment Findings -- Safeguarding Test Data -- CONCLUSION -- Appendix A: Commercially Available Tests Mentioned in the Text -- Appendix B: Internet Addresses of Test Publishers and Distributors -- Appendix C: Table of Areas and Ordinates of the Normal Curve -- References -- Index -- About the Author -- End User License Agreement. |
| Course: |
PSY304 |