Understand the Understand the importance of reliability importance of reliability

and validityand validity1)How important is the ACT in getting into college? Should their 1)How important is the ACT in getting into college? Should their

be more or less emphasis on ACT scores?be more or less emphasis on ACT scores?2) Should their be more or less focus on the ACT in classes?2) Should their be more or less focus on the ACT in classes?

2) Is college for everyone?2) Is college for everyone?3) What skills do people need to be successful in life?3) What skills do people need to be successful in life?

3 tests we use 3 tests we use todaytoday

• Aptitude Tests- predict Aptitude Tests- predict your ability to learn a your ability to learn a new skill.new skill.

• Achievement tests-Achievement tests-intended to reflect intended to reflect what you have what you have learned.learned.

• Wechsler Adult Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- Intelligence Scale- most widely used most widely used intelligence test todayintelligence test today

How reliable How reliable and valid are and valid are certain tests?certain tests?

• Reliability- extent to which Reliability- extent to which scores are consistentscores are consistent• Assuming someone’s basic Assuming someone’s basic

ability has not changed, ability has not changed, they should do the same on they should do the same on a retesta retest

• Validity-extent to which a Validity-extent to which a test measures what it test measures what it needs to.needs to.

• Predictive validity= success Predictive validity= success at which a test predicts a at which a test predicts a certain behavior (aptitude)certain behavior (aptitude)

• (example: ACT scores (example: ACT scores predict how well you do in predict how well you do in college).college).

• Content Validity:Content Validity:

• Key Discussion Key Discussion Questions:Questions:

• Do standardized tests Do standardized tests have predictive validity? have predictive validity? Explain,Explain,

• What else should be What else should be used if not the act?used if not the act?

• Should students with Should students with higher IQS be placed in higher IQS be placed in classrooms that have the classrooms that have the lowest IQ levels?lowest IQ levels?

• Does taking Does taking environmental factors environmental factors into account take away into account take away from the validity of a from the validity of a test?test?

Principles of test Principles of test constructionconstruction

• Standardization= tests Standardization= tests given to a given to a representative representative population. Test then population. Test then administered to people.administered to people.• How well they How well they

do=compared to overall do=compared to overall populationpopulation

• Normal curve=Normal curve=• distribution of scores.distribution of scores.• Bell shape- move away Bell shape- move away

from average---less from average---less people score the people score the extremesextremes• Gifted vs. mental Gifted vs. mental

retardationretardation

First Iq TestsFirst Iq Tests• Alfred Binet (France- Alfred Binet (France-

1857-1911)1857-1911)• Created first Created first

intelligence Testintelligence Test• Mental Age- age level at Mental Age- age level at

which one performswhich one performs

• Lewis Terman-Lewis Terman-• Stanford –Binet Stanford –Binet

Test=Americanized Test=Americanized version of testversion of test

• Came up with term IQCame up with term IQ• BiasBias