Introduction: Psychological Assessment

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Introduction Psychological Assessment
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Terms Definitions

• Psychological Assessment
• The gathering and integrating of psychological
  data for psychological evaluation, through the
  use of tests, interviews, case studies,
  behavioral observation, and specially designed
  apparatuses and measurement procedures

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Terms Definitions

• Psychological Testing
• The measuring of psychology-related variables by
  means of devices or procedures designed to obtain
  samples of behavior

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Terms Definitions

• Psychological Construct
• An informed, scientific idea developed or
  generated to describe or explain behavior
• Intelligence
• Personality
• Anxiety
• Job satisfaction
• Assumption that constructs can be measured

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Terms Definitions

• Contrast Tests Assessment
• Contrast Measurement Evaluation
• Tests as Tools

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Terms Definitions

• Psychometrics
• The science of psychological measurement
• Psychometric Quality
• Norms
• Reliability
• Validity

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Assumptions of Assessment

1. Psychological constructs, states, traits exist.
2. Psychological constructs, states, traits can be
   quantified and measured.
3. Various approaches to measuring aspects of the
   same thing can be useful.
4. Assessment can provide answers to some of lifes
   most momentous questions.

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Assumptions of Assessment (cont.)

1. Assessment can pinpoint phenomena that require
   further attention or study.
2. Various sources of data enrich and are part of
   the assessment process.
3. Various sources of error are part of the
   assessment process.
4. Tests and other measurement techniques have
   strengths and weaknesses.

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Assumptions of Assessment (cont.)

1. Test-related behavior predicts non-test-related
   behavior.
2. Present-day behavior sampling predicts future
   behavior.
3. Testing and assessment can be conducted in a fair
   and unbiased manner.
4. Testing and assessment can benefit society.

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Sources of Test Information

• Test Manuals
• Test Catalogues
• Reference volumes
• Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY)
• http//buros.unl.edu/buros/jsp/lists.jsp
• Tests in Print
• Journal Articles