Essentials of Psychological Testing E-Book

Susana Urbina

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: Essentials of Behavioral Science
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 735

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

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. SUSANA URBINA, PHD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of North Florida, where she taught courses in psychological testing and assessment. A Diplomate of the American Board of Assessment Psychology and a licensed psychologist, Dr. Urbina practiced in the field of psychological assessment for over a decade. She coauthored the seventh edition of Psychological Testing with Anne Anastasi and has published numerous articles and reviews in the area of psychological testing.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Cover

Essentials of Behavioral Science Series

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Series Preface

Preface to the Second Edition

Acknowledgments

Chapter One: Introduction to Psychological Tests and Their Uses

Psychological Tests

Psychological Tests as Tools

Psychological Tests as Products

History of Psychological Testing

Other Developments in Psychological Testing

Current Uses of Psychological Tests

Psychological Assessment Versus Psychological Testing

Test User Qualifications

Sources of Information About Tests

Chapter Two: Essential Statistics for Testing

Measurement

Variables and Constants

The Meaning of Numbers

Types of Statistics

The Normal Curve Model

Uses of the Normal Curve Model

Essentials of Correlation and Regression

Correlation Coefficients

Conclusion

Chapter Three: Essentials of Test Score Interpretation

Raw Scores

Frames of Reference for Test Score Interpretation

Norm-Referenced Test Interpretation

Intertest Comparisons

Criterion-Referenced Test Interpretation

Chapter Four: Essentials of Reliability

Truth and Error in Psychological Measurement

The Relativity of Reliability

Sources of Error in Psychological Testing

Reliability in Test Use

Reliability Considerations in Test Interpretation

Conclusion

Chapter Five: Essentials of Validity

Historical Perspectives on Validity

Current Perspectives on Validity

Sources of Validity Evidence

Concluding Comments

Chapter Six: Essential Test Item Considerations

The Context of Item Analysis: Test Development

Test Item Types

Classical Methods of Item Analysis

Item Response Theory

Item Fairness

Explorations in Item Development and Scoring

Chapter Seven: Essentials of Ethical Test Use

Sources of Information on Ethical Use of Tests

Essentials of Test Selection

Essentials of Test Administration And Scoring

Essentials of Test Score Interpretation and Reporting

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

List of Tables

Table 2.1

Table 2.2

Table 2.3

Table 2.4

Table 2.5

Table 2.6

Table 3.1

Table 3.2

Table 3.3

Table 4.1

Table 5.1

Table 5.2

Table 5.3

Table 5.4

Table 5.5

Table 6.1

Table 6.2

Table 6.3

Table C.1

List of Illustrations

Figure 2.1

Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3

Figure 2.4

Figure 2.5

Figure 2.6

Figure 2.7

Figure 3.1

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

Figure 5.1

Figure 5.2

Figure 6.1

Figure 6.2

Figure 6.3

Figure C.1

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

Begin Reading

Chapter 1

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Essentials of Behavioral Science Series

Founding Editors, Alan S. Kaufman and Nadeen L. Kaufman

Essentials of Abnormal Psychology by Andrew R. Getzfeld

Essentials of Child and Adolescent Psychopathy, Second Edition by Linda Wilmshurst

Essentials of Psychological Testing, Second Edition by Susana Urbina

Essentials of Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences by Barry H. Cohen and R. Brooke Lea

Essentials of Research Design and Methodology by Geoffrey R. Marczyk, David DeMatteo, and David S. Festinger

Essentials of Psychological Testing

Second Edition

Susana Urbina

Cover image: Thinkstock

Cover design: Wiley

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright © 2014 by Susana Urbina. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone].

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Urbina, Susana, 1946–

Essentials of psychological testing/Susana Urbina.—Second edition.

1 online resource.—(Essentials of behavioral science)

ISBN 978-1-118-68048-3 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-118-70725-8 (pdf)

ISBN 978-1-118-87309-0 (epub)

1. Psychological tests. 2. Psychometrics. I. Title.

BF176

150.28’7—dc23

2014003355

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of Laura Urbina de Durán, who was there from the beginning.

Series Preface

In the Essentials of Behavioral Science series, our goal is to provide readers with books that will deliver key practical information in an efficient, accessible style. The series features books on a variety of topics, such as statistics, psychological testing, and research design and methodology, to name just a few. For the experienced professional, books in the series offer a concise yet thorough review of a specific area of expertise, including numerous tips for best practices. Students can turn to series books for a clear and concise overview of the important topics in which they must become proficient to practice skillfully, efficiently, and ethically in their chosen fields.

Wherever feasible, visual cues highlighting key points are utilized alongside systematic, step-by-step guidelines. Chapters are focused and succinct. Topics are organized for an easy understanding of the essential material related to a particular topic. Theory and research are continually woven into the fabric of each book, but always to enhance the practical application of the material, rather than to sidetrack or overwhelm readers. With this series, we aim to challenge and assist readers in the behavioral sciences to aspire to the highest level of competency by arming them with the tools they need for knowledgeable, informed practice.

We are delighted to include the second edition of Essentials of Psychological Testing in our series. Dr. Urbina is, in our opinion, the world's leading expert and most articulate spokesperson on the varied topics that comprise the broad domain of psychological assessment. She approaches each topic with a keen awareness of its theoretical underpinnings, practical and clinical applications, and ethical considerations. Dr. Urbina has prepared her own preface to explain the book's important goals and to detail exactly how the second edition has improved upon the first edition to best meet the testing and assessment needs of a rapidly changing society. We are proud of this book!

Alan S. Kaufman, PhD, and Nadeen L. Kaufman, EdD, Founding Editors

Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine

Preface to the Second Edition

In the last five decades of the 20th century, the field of psychological testing evolved and grew significantly. Since the first edition of this work was published, only one decade has elapsed. Yet, in comparison, the evolution that has occurred in every facet of human endeavor, including psychological testing, during the past ten years is of a different order of magnitude. The widespread availability of Wi-Fi and cloud computing, the launching of Skype and Twitter, and the introduction of the iPhone and the iPad are just some of the recent technological developments that have made possible a level of interconnection and human interaction that was the stuff of science fiction not too long ago.

The changes that digital technology have already brought about to the areas of psychological testing and assessment in the past decade are enormous. At the start of the millennium, testing was done using primarily tests of fixed length administered either via paper and pencil or, to some extent, desktop computers. At this time, the behavior sampling that is the essence of psychological testing can be done from a distance, using a variety of media and adaptive methods that shorten testing time and tailor the test to the individual test taker. Test data can also be collected while people are on the move or having their brains scanned with moving imaging techniques. In addition, the ability to collect, manage, store, and transport massive amounts of data through various forms of online communication and devices is affecting how well and how rapidly tests can be developed, especially in the educational and industrial-organizational arenas.

Still, in spite of all these revolutionary developments, there is a general consensus that we are only at the beginning of more epochal changes likely to take place in the near future that will transform every facet of life even further. With regard to psychological testing and assessment, the use of virtual reality video games or tracking devices that can collect and transmit massive amounts of behavioral data on a continuous basis—provided people agree to have their privacy thus invaded—may not be too far off in the future.

In light of these rapid changes, the reader may well ask how useful a book on the essentials of psychological testing written in 2014 can be and for how long. The answer is simply that no matter how many changes may come about in the media, the methods, the circumstances of testing, and the fundamental principles of the field will remain the same as long as tests exist and the consumers of tests continue to value these principles. Thus, the first goal of this book is to survey the basic principles of psychometrics and ethical guidelines that test users need to use tests competently. A second goal is to supply, for each of these areas, the information required to understand and evaluate tests and test use at a basic level. The third and last goal is to provide readers who need or desire more comprehensive information on psychological testing with the major current reference works in the field.

This book may serve as a review for those who already have some knowledge of this area, as well as a point of departure for further exploration of certain topics. For those who are considering the study of psychological testing for the first time, this volume will provide an orientation to the field and a preview. Finally, for those who are just curious about psychological tests but do not intend to pursue formal studies in psychometrics, this book will acquaint them with the essential concepts of this field.

Susana Urbina, PhD

University of North Florida

Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to Dr. Joan Hill, Dr. Mark Daniel, and Dr. Dan Richard for commenting on the manuscript, and to Dr. Bill Wilson for his help in developing the table in Appendix C. Special thanks are due to the staff of the University of North Florida library, especially to Paul Mosley, Alisa Craddock, and Signe Evans, and to David Wilson of the Center for Instruction and Research Technology of the University of North Florida for preparing most of the figures in this work. Thanks also to Marquita Flemming of John Wiley & Sons for her support in every phase of this work.

OneIntroduction to Psychological Tests and Their Uses

The first and most general meaning of the term test listed in the dictionary is “a critical examination, observation, or evaluation.” Its closest synonym is trial. The word critical, in turn, is defined as “relating to…a turning point or specially important juncture” (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 2003). No wonder, then, that when the term psychological appears in front of the word test, the resulting phrase acquires a somewhat threatening connotation. Psychological tests are often used to evaluate individuals at some turning point or significant juncture in their lives. Yet, in the eyes of many people, tests seem to be trials on which too much depends and about which they know all too little. To a large extent, the purpose of this book is to give readers enough information about psychological tests to remove their threatening connotations and to provide the means whereby participants in the testing process and other interested parties can gain more knowledge about their specific rationale and uses. This chapter will introduce readers to the topic of psychological tests by explaining what they are, how and why they came to be, the major settings and purposes for which they are now used, and what the most important sources of information about tests and testing are.

Thousands of instruments can accurately be called psychological tests. Many more usurp the label either explicitly or by suggestion. The first objective of this book is to explain how to separate the former from the latter. Therefore, we start with the defining features that legitimate psychological tests of all types share. These features not only define psychological tests but also differentiate them from other kinds of instruments.

Psychological Tests

A psychological test is a systematic procedure for obtaining samples of behavior, relevant to cognitive, affective, or interpersonal functioning, and for scoring and evaluating those samples according to standards. A clarification of each of the main terms in this definition is vital to an understanding of all future discussion of tests. Rapid Reference 1.1 explains the meaning and rationale of all the elements in the definition of a psychological test. Unless every condition mentioned in the definition is met, the procedure in question cannot accurately be called a psychological test. It is, however, important to remember that in essence, psychological tests are simply behavior samples. Everything else is based on inferences.

Rapid Reference 1.1

Basic Elements of the Definition of Psychological Tests

Defining Element

Explanation

Rationale

Psychological tests are

systematic procedures

.

They are characterized by planning, uniformity, and thoroughness.

Tests

must be

demonstrably objective and fair to be of use.

Psychological tests are

samples of behavior

.

They are small subsets of a much larger whole.

Sampling behavior is efficient because the time available is usually limited.

The behaviors sampled by tests are

relevant to cognitive, affective, or interpersonal functioning.

The samples are selected for their empirical or practical psychological significance.

Tests, unlike mental games, exist to be of use; they are tools.

Test results are

evaluated

and

scored

.

Some numerical or category system is applied to test results, according to pre-established rules.

There should be no question about what the results of tests are.

To evaluate test results it is necessary to have

standards

based on empirical data.

There has to be a way of applying a common yard-stick or criterion to test results.

The standards used to evaluate test results lend the only meaning those results have.