Psychological TestsPsychological Tests

Ch 15 notesCh 15 notes

Psychological TestsPsychological Tests

Assess abilities, feelings, Assess abilities, feelings, attitudes, and behaviorsattitudes, and behaviors– Help predict a person’s future Help predict a person’s future behaviorbehavior

Uses:Uses:– Make important decisionsMake important decisions– Measure behavior directlyMeasure behavior directly

Behavior-rating scales (used to measure Behavior-rating scales (used to measure behavior in specific places like a behavior in specific places like a classroom or at work)classroom or at work)

Most though are based on self-reports of Most though are based on self-reports of attitudes, feelings, and behaviorattitudes, feelings, and behavior

Features of Psych. Features of Psych. TestsTests Standardized: administered and score the Standardized: administered and score the same way every timesame way every time

Reliability: consistencyReliability: consistency Validity: tests what it is meant toValidity: tests what it is meant to

– Validity scales: questions that if answered a Validity scales: questions that if answered a certain way, tell the psychologist that the certain way, tell the psychologist that the test-taker is not being honesttest-taker is not being honest

Helpful but not foolproofHelpful but not foolproof Norms: established standards of Norms: established standards of performance that are designed to tell performance that are designed to tell test administrators which scores are test administrators which scores are average, high, or lowaverage, high, or low– Use norm groupUse norm group

Achievement TestsAchievement Tests

Measure skills and knowledge Measure skills and knowledge that a person has in that a person has in specific academic area(s)specific academic area(s)

Most tests you’ve taken in Most tests you’ve taken in high schoolhigh school

Aptitude TestsAptitude Tests

Measure more specific Measure more specific abilities/skills than abilities/skills than intelligence tests do but intelligence tests do but broader ones than achievement broader ones than achievement teststests– Generally used to determine whether Generally used to determine whether a person is likely to do well in a a person is likely to do well in a given field of work/studygiven field of work/study

– Ex: SATs, MCATsEx: SATs, MCATs

How can you tell the How can you tell the difference?difference? Aptitude tests intended to measure Aptitude tests intended to measure potential for learning in a specific potential for learning in a specific areaarea

Aptitude tests usually given before Aptitude tests usually given before person has had any training in a person has had any training in a specific areaspecific area

Used to predict how well person will Used to predict how well person will do once receive training in areado once receive training in area

BUT they rely on past achievements BUT they rely on past achievements All aptitude tests rely on some kind All aptitude tests rely on some kind of prior achievementof prior achievement

Vocational Interest Vocational Interest InventoriesInventories Help determine whether a person’s Help determine whether a person’s interests are similar to those of interests are similar to those of people in various lines of workpeople in various lines of work

Ex: Ex: – Kuder Preference Records: forced-Kuder Preference Records: forced-choice formatchoice format

– Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory: Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory: not as obvious or directnot as obvious or direct

Compares test taker’s interests to Compares test taker’s interests to those people who are in various kinds those people who are in various kinds of workof work

Interest does not guarantee Interest does not guarantee ability in an areaability in an area

Personality TestsPersonality Tests

Can be used to help diagnose Can be used to help diagnose psychological problems and disorderspsychological problems and disorders

KindsKinds– Objective Tests: standardized group of Objective Tests: standardized group of test items in form of questionnairetest items in form of questionnaire

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)(MMPI)– Validity and clinical scalesValidity and clinical scales– Used to diagnose and classify psychological Used to diagnose and classify psychological disordersdisorders

California Psychological InventoryCalifornia Psychological Inventory– Measures 15 “normal” personality traitsMeasures 15 “normal” personality traits– Larger norm groupLarger norm group

Projective TestsProjective Tests

Have no clearly specified Have no clearly specified answersanswers

Open-ended formatOpen-ended format– Rorschach Inkblot TestRorschach Inkblot Test

Attempts have been made to Attempts have been made to standardizestandardize

– Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Validity and reliability not Validity and reliability not real greatreal great

Tips for Taking TestsTips for Taking Tests

Gather information about the testGather information about the test Practice: regular study periodsPractice: regular study periods Be test-wise: read directions and follow Be test-wise: read directions and follow

them, have right equipmentthem, have right equipment Multiple-Choice Questions:Multiple-Choice Questions:

– Answer before look at answersAnswer before look at answers– Consider every optionConsider every option– Look for oppositesLook for opposites– Look for best choiceLook for best choice– Mark difficult questions to come back toMark difficult questions to come back to– Guess only when odds of gaining points outweigh Guess only when odds of gaining points outweigh

the odds of losing themthe odds of losing them– Change answer if you think you have made a Change answer if you think you have made a

mistakemistake

True-False QuestionsTrue-False Questions– For it to be true, every part must be For it to be true, every part must be truetrue

– Be wary of absolutes like always and Be wary of absolutes like always and nevernever

– Items that provide info and are longer Items that provide info and are longer than others tend to be truethan others tend to be true

Short Answer QuestionsShort Answer Questions– Answer in brief but complete sentencesAnswer in brief but complete sentences– Include significant terms Include significant terms – Use detail if time and space allowUse detail if time and space allow

EssayEssay– Read directionsRead directions– Make a quick outline of answerMake a quick outline of answer– Express strongest ideas firstExpress strongest ideas first

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety

Quite normal to be uncomfortable Quite normal to be uncomfortable before a testbefore a test– Not always a bad thing because shows Not always a bad thing because shows we understand it is importantwe understand it is important

Can be overcomeCan be overcome– Be preparedBe prepared– OverlearnOverlearn– Think helpful thoughtsThink helpful thoughts

Cognitive restructuring: consciously Cognitive restructuring: consciously changing thoughts you have in a changing thoughts you have in a particular situationparticular situation