exam 1

the scientific method of describing, explaining and predicting human behavior.

requires a person to preform some behavior, and measures some underlying construct

personal attribute, trait, or characteristic important to behavior

assigning numbers with specific rules to a phenomenon

gathering information from measurement and being able to understand and interpret the results

-inferring ability on psychological construct from a behavior
-to quantify human behavior

1- Representative sample of behaviors
2- Standardized testing conditions
3- Scoring rules

-done to arrive at the construct we are trying to measure
-ie: testing all hs math courses instead of just alg. when testing HS knowledge.

-tests should be administered the same way, every time, to the same people (all ppl)
-the conditions of the test will effect all takers the same, so we will be able to be confident that a person's answers accurately reflect the attribute being measured.

- number correct/number total
-dichotomous threshold scoring
-scores relative to norms

assigning group membership based on a certain score (ie: certain score will be a likely diagnosis for PTSD)

1. Test measures what its supposed to (validity)
2. Individuals behavior and test scores stay the same (reliability, test retest)
3. individuals unsertand test items the same way
4. Individuals will report accurately about themselves, and honestly about their thoughts and feelings
5. test score = true score+some error

-maximal performance
-behavioral observation
-self-report

standardized use norms

have some structured response format (ie T/F, MC)

-asked to respond to ambiguous stimuli
- less common, very unreliable, lack of validity

previous academic learning

potential for future learning

more generalized, but still future oriented

-what you like to do
-are your interests aligned with people currently in that job?
-Will you be satisfied in this role?

-some for diagnosis of disorder
-commonly used for normal personality reasons for organization decision making

GRE psych subject test

standards members of a profession must follow

statements by professionals regarding what they believe are appropriate and inappropriate behaviors when practicing the profession (not laws, but can result in loss of certification w/in professional group)

-Voluntary credentials individuals earn by demonstrating they have met predetermined qualifications
-ie: Ph.D

mandatory credential individuals must obtain to practice within their field

-safeguard rights and welfare of others
-minimize harm when conflicts arise

-aware of their own responsibilities
-aware of other professional's responsibilities
-pro-bono work

-accuracy, honesty, truthfulness
-must seriously consider and take precaution to use deception, and only use when absolutely necessary
-debriefing is a must if deception is used

-equal/fair access to the benefits of psychology for all
-biases, compettence, expertise should not lead to or condone unjust practices

Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination.

-sell psych tests to those who are trained
-tests are marketed truthfully
-maintain test security
-tests are distributed with a manual describing psychometric info

-testing process: determines need, selects test, admins test, scores the test, and interprets the test for the test taker
-understand and abide by practice standards

-be prepared, understand consequences, follow directions
-don't cheat, ask questions and make sure you understand why you're taking test.
-be respectful to those around you

refers to the right of an individual to keep his or her health info private

refers to the duty of any physician or person trusted with health and personal info to keep it private.

administering tests or obtaining information without obtaining the identity of the participant.

process of explaining to an individual what will be required of the testing process
-participant is agreeing w/knowledge of possible consequences
-not always required, sometimes implied

-save time and money, more convenient
-standardized administration eliminates human errors
-allows for more adaption for those with disabilities
-improved scoring with decreased error

-some ppl dont have access to computers, or may not be familiar with them
-computer anxiety
-provides more general interpretation of scores, human scoring can providenderstand more about the answers given

A large number of multiple-choice, true/false, and short-answer questions that assess knowledge of a subject or group of subjects.

new items generated for every test based on strict parameters

-A form of assessment using a computer in which the questions have been precalibrated in terms of difficulty, and the examinee's response (i.e., right or wrong) to one question determines the selection of the next question
- more dimensions are able to be tested in a shorter time

operates behind CAT and will estimate a persons standing on an underlying trait, rather than the score on the test

-number is assigned to categories to give labels (0=female, 1=male)
-used with categorical data, grouped together according to a common property

-same as nominal but adds order
-orders in hierarchy, but space between doesn't matter (1st preference, 2nd)

-Distance form one point to another is the same, but there is no true zero.
- difference between 2.0 and 3.0, and 3.0 and 4.0 GPA is the same

-all properties of other measures and adds true zero point.
-zero point represents the complete absence of the construct measured
-ie: census question, zero children is possible.

focus on where distributions are centered

-average
-sum of scores divided by total number of scores

-middlemost score
-if two, avg them out

most frequently occurring score

mean = median = mode

how spread out the scores are

-highest score minus lowest score
-greater variability means greater range
-outliers skew index

-the square of the standard deviation
-sum (score-mean)^2 /sample size

average deviation from the mean
-σ=√(∑▒(x-μ) ^2/N)

(score-mean)/standard deviation

strength of a relationship (0-1)

if its positive or negative

outlier scores in the positive (right side) of the curve draw the tail out to the right

outlier score in the negative (left side) of the curve draw the tail out to the left

-outliers have considerable affect on the mean
-median is less influence by outliers than the mean
-report median when dist. is skewed over mode
-bc mode is unchanged

observable and measurable action

-96% fall between -2 and +2
-68 fall between -1 and +1
-99% fall between -3 and+3

variance is dependent on the scale of measure, it makes interpretation difficult and poses a limitation

equivalence in scores

used when reporting income or housing prices

as X increases, Y decreases

as X increases, y increases

mean is 50
SD is 10

how you define a construct will determine how you measure it (ie wording the test questions)