INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is defined formally as a science which allows one to study mental processes, experiences and
behaviour in different aspects.

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ENQUIRY

Psychological enquiry has the following goals-
1. Description:
In a psychological study, we attempt to describe a behaviour or a phenomenon as accurately as possible. This
helps in distinguishing a particular behaviour.
2. Prediction:
The second goal of psychological enquiry is to know casual factors or determinants of behaviour. If you are
able to understand and describe the behaviour accurately, we come to know the relationship of a particular
behaviour with other types of behaviour, events or phenomena.
3. Explanation:
The third goal of psychological enquiry is to know casual factors or determinants of behaviour. Psychologists
are primarily interested in knowing the factors that make behaviour occur. Also, the conditions in which a
particular behaviour does not occur.
4. Control:
If you are able to explain why a particular behaviour occurs, you can control that behaviour by making changes
in its antecedent conditions
Control refers to three things-
 Making a particular behaviour happens
 Enhancing it
 Reducing it.
5. Application:
The final goal of psychological enquiry is to bring out positive changes in the lives of people. Psychological
research is conducted to solve problems in various settings. Due to these efforts, the quality of life of people is a
major concern of psychologists.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST
A psychological test is an Objective and Standardized measurement instrument which is used to assess an
individual’s standing in relation to others or some mental or behavioural characteristics.
It is a structured technique used to generate a carefully selected sample of behaviour. This behaviour sample is used
to make inferences about the psychological attributes of the people who have been tested.
Assessment of psychological tests are considerably more formal and informative than the assessment based
on general observations on someone’s behaviour.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST

For a test to be trustworthy and informative, the characteristics of reliability, validity, objectivity and norms
are important, which are major elements of standardization.
Standardization refers to a method of establishing standards/ norms and uniform procedures for a test, by
administering it to a large group of representative individuals.
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RELIABILITY

NORMS STANDARDIZATION VALIDITY

OBJECTIVITY

RELIABILITY: Refers to consistency in measurement. It refers to consistency of scores obtained by an

individual on the same test on 2 different occasions. For example, a test is administered to a group of students
today and re-administered on the same group after about 25 days. If the test is reliable, the scores obtained on
both occasions should be matching.

Types of reliability-
Test-Retest reliability:
1. Indicates temporal stability or stability of test scores over time
2. It is calculated by finding out coefficient of correlation between 2 sets of scores on the same set of
persons
Split half reliability:
1. Indicates the degree of internal consistency of a test.
2. Is based on the assumption that if items of a test are from the same area/filed/domain, then they should
correlate with each other.

Reliability of a test may improve if:

 It is ensured that the test was administered and scored by a truly standard procedure.
 The test procedures are uniform
Validity
Validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure. It refers to the fact whether a test fulfills
the purpose which it has been constructed for. Eg. A test of musical aptitude should measure only that, then
only is it a valid test. If a test of musical aptitude measures verbal ability, it is not valid.
Assessing the validity of any tests requires careful selection of appropriate criterion measures. If we are to
check the validity of a test, we must settle on one or more criterion measures of the attributes that the test is
designed to measure.
Relationship between Reliability and Validity
 It is not possible to have a measure that has low reliability and high validity. There cannot be validity without
reliability but, it is possible to have a test with high reliability and low validity.
Objectivity
Objectivity means to take the psychological test and make it free from any subjective or personal judgments. It
refers to the fact that if two or more researchers administer a psychological test on the same group of people,
both of them would come up with more or less the same values for each person in the group.
For a psychological test to become an objective measure, the following conditions need to be met:
 The items should be worded in such a manner that they communicate the same meaning to different
readers (objectivity of items.)
 The instructions to test taker about how to answer the test items should be specified in advance
 The procedure to administer the test (such as environmental conditions, time limit, and mode of
administration) should be specified.
 The procedure to score the participant’s responses needs to be standardized so that uniformity can be
maintained when test is scored by different experts (objectivity of scoring system)

Norms
Norms refer to scores of a large group of individuals to which scores of an individual can be compared to. They
refer to the normal or average performance of the group. They help us to compare the performance of an
individual with others of the same group. They provide a basis for interpreting an individual’s score.
A score without any basis for comparison is not very useful. If an individual obtains a certain score, unless and
until there are norms, it can’t be said whether the score is good or bad.
Types of Tests
On the basis of language usage: Verbal, Non-Verbal and Performance tests.
 Verbal tests are tests which emphasize on reading, writing and oral expression. Literacy is required to
answer such tests. These use language in both instructions and in the test items. Eg. 16 PF (personality
factor) test.
 Non-Verbal tests are tests in which language is used only to give instructions but not used in items. The
Test items are presented with the help of symbols and figures. E.g. Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM)
Test
 Performance tests are tests which require subject to do a task. No language is used in items. Instructions
are given by gestures or orally, at times. E.g. Kohs’ Block Design Test
On the basis of administration: Individual and Group Tests
 Individual tests are administered to one person at a time. The Researcher administers the test face to face
and remains seated before the test taker and notes down responses. One of the main Advantages of such
tests are that they help to get information from children and from those who don’t know the language.
however, these tests are time consuming.

 Group tests can be administered to a large no. of people at the same time. The instructions about
answering test items are written on the test. The Test takers read and answer the questions accordingly.
The Instructions are explained to the entire group.these tests are easy to administer and consume less time.
However, the respondent may not be motivated enough to answer questions and may give false answers.

On the basis of time taken: Speed and Power Tests

  Speed tests are the ones in which there is a time limit within which the test taker has to answer all items.
These tests evaluate individuals on the basis of time taken to answer the items accurately. All items in
the test are of same degree of difficulty.
 Power tests are the ones where ample time is given to subject to complete test items. These tests don’t
have a time limit. They evaluate an individual’s underlying ability. The test items are arranged in
increasing order of difficulty.

Culture Fair and Culture Biased Tests

 Culture Fair tests are the ones that do not discriminate against individuals belonging to different
cultures. In such tests, items are constructed in a manner that they assess experiences common to all
cultures or have questions in which language usage is not required. Non-verbal and performance tests
help reduce the cultural bias usually associated with verbal tests.
 Culture Biased tests are biased towards the culture in which they are developed
Difference between Psychological Test and Experiment
An experiment is used to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between different variables. On the other
hand, a psychological test is used to assess psychological attributes. A test can be used as part of an experiment.
Ethical Issues:
The researcher is expected to follow certain ethics or moral principles while conducting the studies. These
principles are- respect for persons privacy and choice to participate in the study, beneficence or protecting the
participants in the study from any harm and justice or sharing the benefits of research with all Participants.
Some of the important aspects of these ethical principles are:
1. Voluntary Participation:
This principle states that the person on whom you want to conduct the study should have choice and freedom to
decide whether or not to participate in the study.
2. Informed Consent:
It is essential that the participants in a study understand what will happen to them during the study. The
principle of informed consent states that potential participants must receive this information data is collected
from them so that they can make an informed decision.
3. Debriefing:
Once the study is over, the participants are provided with necessary information to complete their understanding
of the research. It ensures that participants leave the study in same physical and mental state as when entered. It
should offer reassurance to the participants.
4. Sharing the results of the study:
It is obligatory for the researcher to share the result and conclusions of the study with the participants.
Participants expect that you will tell them about their behaviour which you assessed.

Limitations of Psychological Enquiry:

Some general problems faced by psychological measurements are described below-
1. Lack of true zero point:
In physical sciences, measurements, start from a zero point. While psychological tests do not have a true zero
point. E.g. No person in this world has zero intelligence.
2. Relative Nature of Psychological tools:
Psychological tests are developed keeping in view, the salient features of a particular context. E.g. A test
developed for urban students may contain items that demand familiarity with the stimuli available in urban
areas.
3. Subjective Interpretation of qualitative data:
Data from qualitative studies are largely subjective since they involve interpretation on part of the researcher as
well as the person providing data. The interpretation may vary from one person to another.
Advantages of Psychological Enquiry:
 You fulfil the expectations of the participants.
 The participants may tell you their opinions about the results, which may help you to develop insights.
 Confidentiality of data source: the participant in a study has the right to privacy. The researcher must
safeguard their privacy by keeping the information provided by them in strict confidence. The
information should only be used for research purposes and is no circumstances passed on to others.

Misuses of Psychological Testing

Psychological tests, unless used by trained investigators, may be misused, intentionally or unintentionally.
 Poor performance on a test may attach a stigma to individuals and thereby adversely affect their
self-respect and performance.
 The tests results may invite discriminatory practices from parents, teachers and the society at large.
 Individuals coming from disadvantaged sections of the society may face biased interpretations.
That is, administering a test biased in favor of the middle class and higher class populations may
underestimate the attributes of children coming from disadvantaged sections of the society.