Essentials of psychological testing / Susana Urbina.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Urbina, Susana, 1946- author.

Series:

Essentials of behavioral science series.

Essentials of Behavioral Science Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychological tests.

Psychometrics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (387 pages)

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, 2014.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

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

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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781118873090

1118873092

9781118707258

1118707257

OCLC:

869367796