psychometrics
scientific approach to measurement of psychological characteristics
standardized test
set of tasks administered under controlled conditions
normal distribution
bell-shaped distribution of scores, divided at the mean into two halves
norms
standards for achievement on tests
standardization sample
group of individuals used to establish a test's norms
reliability
consistency, or repeatability, of test scores
validity
correspondence between a test score and the characteristic the test is supposed to measure
test-retest reliability
correspondence between two administrations of the same test to the same people
split-half reliability
correspondence between two halves of the same test
equivalent form reliability
correspondence between two alternate versions of a test
criterion-related validity
correspondencwe between a test score and some independent measure of the characteristic it is designed to test
predictive validity
validity measure in which a test score is associated with future performance in the area of interest
concurrent validity
validity measure in which a test score is associated with current performance in the area of interest
content-related validity
correspondence between a test and the full range of material it is designed to test
face validity
superficial relationship between test items and the tested characteristic
construct validity
the major element of a test's usefulness; the correspondence between a test and the tested characteristic or trait
item analysis
procedure for evaluating tests by correlating each test item with the total test score
intelligence
capacity to acquire and use knowledge
general intelligence (g)
common intellectual factor shared by all cognitive processes, which theoretically can be summarized with one number
specific abilities (s)
individual intellectual functions that are thought to depend on g
primary mental abilities
Thurstone's small set of intellectual capabilities identified through factor analysis; similar to Gardner's multiple intelligences and Fodor's modules
factor analysis
statistical technique for isolating clusters of items (factors) on a test
individual tests
tests that are administered by a trained examiner to only one person at a time
group tests
tests that are administered to several people at the same time
mental age
score corresponding to the average number of items passed by a given age group, corresponding to the chronological age of that group
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
an individual test of intelligence, based on Binet's original test, that measures performance in 15 areas
intelligence quotient (IQ)
ratio between mental age and chronological age, times 100
Wechsler intelligence scales
three seperate individual intelligence tests, each geared to a different age group
deviation IQ
score achieved on an intelligence test, interpreted in terms of the notmal distribution's standard deviation
aptitude tests
assessments of ability (or set of abilities) in different areas of functioning
achievement tests
assessments of performance in specific programs of instruction; tests in college courses illustrate achievement tests
speed tests
assessments of how fast an individual can perform certain tasks
power tests
assessments of an individual's level of ability or mastery of material
mental retardation
deficits in intellectual development that are partly assessed by intelligence tests
Public Law (PL) 94-142
Education for All Handicapped Children Act, mandating education for all children regardless of their handicapping condition
self-report inventories
personality measures in which individuals answer a series of questions about themselves
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2)
the most widely used self-report inventory of personality
empirical scale
test in which groups of known differences answer items differentially
projective techniques
ambiguous and unstructured tasks used to assess personality
inkblot techniques
projective personality tests whose stimuli are smeared ink patterns
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
projective personality test whose stimuli are ambiguous pictures