Psychological Testing Psychology WICHS Mr. Leonoff

Purposes Crash Course Crash Course 2 Measuring and predicting human behavior Find info about a person Predict successful people??? Assess desires, interests, attitudes Reveal psychological problems Standardized tests Comparison amongst others

Test Reliability and Validity Reliability – test’s consistent ability to yield the same result under a variety of similar circumstances Taking a test several times in a short period should result in similar scores (test-retest reliability) Test yields the same results when scored at different times by different people (interscorer reliability) Dividing a test in half and scoring each half separately – should score similarly (split-half reliability)

Test Reliability and Validity Validity – ability of a test to measure what it intends to measure How well a test predicts performance (predictive validity) Much more difficult to determine validity than reliability

Standardization 2 items of standardization: Must be administered and scored the same way every time Follow the same procedures and ask questions the same way No hints Establish the norm (average score) made by a large group of people Helps turn test results into something useful Ex: 75% on a test compared to average scores of 55% or 90% Percentile System – ranking of scores that indicates the ratio of scores lower and higher than a given score Ex: 10 out of 20 people scored below 75% === 50th Percentile Based on test’s norms – scores achieved by giving test to a large amount of people

Lesson 1 Review 1. What is meant when we ask about the reliability or validity of a test? 2. Explain the relationship of reliability, validity, and standardization to psychological testing. 3. What two qualities do useful tests exhibit? 4. Why should raw test scores be turned into percentile scores?

Intelligence Most common def: ability to acquire new ideas and new behavior to adapt to new situations Many definitions of intelligence What is absolutely correct???

Intelligence Two Factory Theory of Intelligence Charles Spearman Two factors contribute to intelligence g = general intelligence Complex mental work (problem solving) s = specific mental abilities Verbal and Math skills Everyone has a certain level of general intelligence

Intelligence Thurstone’s Theory of Intelligence L.L. Thurstone Seven Primary mental abilities Need to measure all seven Verbal Comprehension, word fluency, number facility, spatial visualization, associative memory, perceptual speed, and reasoning Found no evidence to substantiate this theory Settled on including “g” with his seven mental abilities

Intelligence Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligences - http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/learning/MI%20Table.htm Visual/Spatial Verbal/Linguistic Mathematical/Logical Bodily/Kinesthetic Musical/Rhythmic Intrapersonal Interpersonal Naturalist Existentialist http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-assessment (Test) http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-howard-gardner-video

Intelligence Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence Robert Sternberg Triarchic Theory (three part theory) Analytical Thinking Skills (solve Problems) Creative Thinking to solving problems and dealing with new situations Practical Thinking Skills to help adjust to and cope with one’s environment Argued traditional tests do not measure what is found in everyday life

Intelligence Emotional Intelligence 4 components The ability to perceive and express emotions accurately and appropriately The ability to use emotions while thinking The ability to understand emotions and use the knowledge effectively The ability to regulate one’s emotions to promote personal growth

Intelligence Tests Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale Test that measures IQ IQ = Intelligence Quotient IQ = Mental Age/Chronological Age x100 Ex: 16 Year old that scores at a 16 year old mental age = 100 IQ Test is based on age levels

Intelligence Tests Wechsler Tests Tests varied by age Provide an overall IQ score and subscores Verbal Categories: General Info Similarities Arithmetic Reasoning Vocabulary Comprehension Digit Span (Attention & STM) Nonverbal Categories Picture Completion Picture Arrangement Object Assembly Block Design Coding

Intelligence Tests The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test Measures cognitive abilities that are related to a student’s ability to learn and succeed in school Assesses verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative abilities

IQ Scores IQ Scores Normal = 100 95% of people score between 70 and 130 2% above 130 Below 70 are labeled developmentally disabled http://www.brainmetrix.com/free-iq-test/

IQ Scores Controversies Intelligence is related to inherited genetic factors Siblings raised in the same environment have similar Iqs The Flynn Effect IQ is higher because… More children today receive an education Better nutrition Reading material and technology allows familiarity with puzzle and maze questions More people are exposed to the test so they do better Cultural Bias Wording is familiar to certain cultures, hence, those cultures perform better Standardized Tests??? Gender Bias Males outscore Females on SAT – Females outperform Males in the real world of HS and College

Lesson 2 Review 1. What are the two-factor and triarchic theories of intelligence? 2. Identify and summarize the various views on intelligence. 3. Why is intelligence not solely defined by academic ability? 4. How do the Stanford-Binet and Weschler Tests differ? 5. What criteria are essential to determine intelligence?

Testing Aptitude Tests Attempt to discover a person’s talents and to predict how well a new skill can be learned Ex: Career Aptitude MCAT, LSAT Ex: Music, language, art, math aptitudes Ex: Verbal ability Communication, spelling, grammar, analogies Ex: SAT/ACT = general aptitude tests Predict success in college

Testing Achievement Tests Measure how much a person has already learned in a particular area Ex: School Tests

Testing Interest Inventories Determine a person’s preferences, attitudes, and interests Ex: Strong Interest Inventory (SII) Match responses to those given by clearly defined groups (professions/occupations) Help people identify what they may be most interested in Jobs, Careers, etc.

Lesson 3 Review 1. Explain what aptitude tests, achievement tests, and interest inventories are designed to measure. 2. Why might an individual take an aptitude test, an achievement test, or an interest inventory. 3. Why is the SAT considered an aptitude test? 4. What is the essential purpose of an interest inventory?

Testing Personality Tests Used by psychologists and psychiatrists Assess individual’s characteristics, identify problems/psych disorders, predict behavior Open Ended Tests – require an in-depth response Objective Tests – limited or forced-choice format with a scoring rubric

Testing MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) Updated and now called MMPI-2 No Right or Wrong answers Typically True/False/Cannot Say responses Ex ?s: I like Tall women; I wake up tired most mornings, etc. Intend to reveal habits, fears, delusions, sexual attitudes, and symptoms of psych disorders by discovering a pattern of responses 10 Clinical Scales (See book pg. 370)

Testing CPI (California Psychological Inventory) More general than MMPI Not intended for psychiatric illness Measures responsibility, self-control, and tolerance Predicts adjustment to stress, leadership, and job success

Testing The Myers-Briggs Test Focuses on how a person takes in info, makes decisions, and approaches day-to-day tasks Four different scales Introversion vs. Extroversion Intuition vs. Sensing Feeling vs. Thinking Judging vs. Perceiving Belief is personality is a combo of these factors Better understand interpersonal relationships

Testing Projective Personality Tests Encourage free response Interpretation Open ended Test material has no established meaning Test takers will project feelings, perspectives, and attitudes towards test items

Testing Rorschach Inkblot Test Tester shows an inkblot pattern, test taker says what he/she sees General questions are asked to determine why test taker responded a certain way Hope to reveal part of person’s personality

Testing TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) 20 pictures of vague but suggestive situations Responder will tell a story about the picture Focus on consistent emotions, issues, or themes of the responder Determines healthy and unhealthy functioning of the responder Motivation and personality characteristics

Testing Any test should also include interviews and/or observations No one test should be taken to determine a psychological state Should use caution with results

Lesson 4 Review 1. What is the difference between objective and projective tests? 2. What is the purpose of a personality test? 3. Compare and contrast the five types of personality tests? 4. What is the goal of an objective personality test? 5. What is the goal of a projective personality test?