Psychological Testing: An Introduction

by Domino, George

• ISBN13: 9780130201430
• ISBN10: 013020143X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

B> Unique in both perspective and approach, this book exposes readers to the entire panorama of psychological testing — covering all major classic and contemporary topics — but without overwhelming detail. Comprehensive — but not encyclopedic — and cross-culturally relevant, it conveys in exceptionally clear language the excitement associated with psychological testing, and teaches basic principles through concrete interconnected examples. Focusing on “testing the individual” rather than on testing in general and specific formulas, it is both academic and applied in perspective — reflecting the author's varied experience in industry, in a counseling center, and in other service oriented settings, and extensive academic training in clinical psychology. Addresses basic issues regarding The Nature of Tests; Test Construction, Administration, and Interpretation; and Reliability and Validity. Considers the various dimensions of testing: Personality; Cognition; Attitudes, Values, and Interests; Psychopathology; Normal Positive Functioning. Details the applications of testing with a variety of populations: Special Children; The Elderly; Testing in a Cross-Cultural Context; Disability and Rehabilitation. Discusses the various settings of testing: Testing in the Schools; Occupational Settings; and Clinical and Forensic Settings. Presents the current challenges to testing: The Issue of Faking; The Role of Computers; and Testing Behavior and Environments. Outlines the History of Testing. For anyone interested in psychological testing in a broad range of

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
PART ONE: BASIC ISSUES	1	(68)
Chapter 1 The Nature of Tests	1	(16)
Aim	1	(1)
Introduction	1	(4)
Categories of Tests	5	(5)
Ethical Standards	10	(2)
Information about Tests	12	(1)
Summary	13	(2)
Suggested Reading	15	(2)
Chapter 2 Test Construction, Administration, and Interpretation	17	(27)
Aim	17	(1)
Constructing a Test	17	(3)
Test Items	20	(4)
Philosophical Issues	24	(3)
Administering a Test	27	(1)
Interpreting Test Scores	27	(4)
Item Characteristics	31	(5)
Norms	36	(3)
Combining Test Scores	39	(3)
Summary	42	(1)
Suggested Reading	42	(2)
Chapter 3 Reliability and Validity	44	(25)
Aim	44	(1)
Introduction	44	(1)
Reliability	44	(1)
Types of Reliability	45	(9)
Validity	54	(5)
Aspects of Validity	59	(8)
Summary	67	(1)
Suggested Reading	68	(1)
PART TWO: DIMENSIONS OF TESTING	69	(163)
Chapter 4 Personality	69	(28)
Aim	69	(1)
Introduction	69	(1)
Some Basic Issues	70	(2)
Types of Personality Tests	72	(2)
Examples of Specific Tests	74	(19)
The Big Five	93	(2)
Summary	95	(1)
Suggested Reading	96	(1)
Chapter 5 Cognition	97	(35)
Aim	97	(1)
Introduction	97	(1)
Theories of Intelligence	97	(5)
Other Aspects	102	(3)
The Binet Tests	105	(5)
The Wechsler Tests	110	(11)
Other Tests	121	(9)
Summary	130	(1)
Suggested Reading	131	(1)
Chapter 6 Attitudes, Values, and Interests	132	(37)
Aim	132	(1)
Attitudes	132	(14)
Values	146	(10)
Interests	156	(11)
Summary	167	(1)
Suggested Reading	168	(1)
Chapter 7 Psychopathology	169	(37)
Aim	169	(1)
Introduction	169	(3)
Measures	172	(6)
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personility Inventory (MMPI) and MMPI-2	178	(9)
The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)	187	(7)
Other Measures	194	(11)
Summary	205	(1)
Suggested Reading	205	(1)
Chapter 8 Normal Positive Functioning	206	(26)
Aim	206	(1)
Self-concept	206	(6)
Locus of Control	212	(2)
Sexuality	214	(1)
Creativity	215	(8)
Imagery	223	(2)
Competitiveness	225	(1)
Hope	226	(2)
Hassles	228	(1)
Loneliness	228	(1)
Automobile Driving	229	(1)
Death Anxiety	230	(1)
Summary	231	(1)
Suggested Reading	231	(1)
PART THREE: APPLICATIONS OF TESTING	232	(107)
Chapter 9 Special Children	232	(36)
Aim	232	(1)
Some Issues Regarding Testing	232	(11)
Categories of Special Children	243	(13)
Some General Issues about Tests	256	(10)
Summary	266	(1)
Suggested Reading	266	(2)
Chapter 10 Older Persons	268	(16)
Aim	268	(1)
Some Overall Issues	268	(3)
Attitudes Toward the Elderly	271	(1)
Anxiety about Aging	272	(1)
Life Satisfaction	272	(2)
Marital Satisfaction	274	(1)
Morale	275	(1)
Coping or Adaptation	276	(1)
Death and Dying	277	(1)
Neuropsychological Assessment	277	(4)
Depression	281	(1)
Summary	282	(1)
Suggested Reading	282	(2)
Chapter 11 Testing in a Cross-Cultural Context	284	(26)
Aim	284	(1)
Introduction	284	(1)
Measurement Bias	284	(10)
Cross-Cultural Assessment	294	(3)
Measurement of Acculturation	297	(3)
Some Culture-Fair Tests and Findings	300	(8)
Standardized Tests
Summary	308	(1)
Suggested Reading	308	(2)
Chapter 12 Disability and Rehabilitation	310	(29)
Aim	310	(1)
Some General Concerns	310	(3)
Modified Testing	313	(1)
Some General Results	314	(3)
Legal Issues	317	(4)
The Visually Impaired	321	(4)
Hearing Impaired	325	(10)
Physical-Motor Disabilities	335	(3)
Summary	338	(1)
Suggested Reading	338	(1)
PART FOUR: THE SETTINGS	339	(105)
Chapter 13 Testing in the Schools	339	(32)
Aim	339	(1)
Preschool Assessment	339	(3)
Assessment in the Primary Grades	342	(3)
High School	345	(4)
Admission into College	349	(7)
The Graduate Record Examination	356	(7)
Entrance into Professional Training	363	(4)
Tests for Licensure and Certification	367	(2)
Summary	369	(2)
Suggested Reading
Chapter 14 Occupational Settings	371	(34)
Aim	371	(1)
Some Basic Issues	371	(3)
Some Basic Findings	374	(1)
Ratings	375	(4)
The Role of Personality	379	(2)
Biographical Data (Biodata)	381	(5)
Assessment Centers	386	(2)
Illustrative Industrial Concerns	388	(3)
Testing in the Military	391	(2)
Prediction of Police Performance	393	(2)
Examples of Specific Tests	395	(5)
Integrity Tests	400	(4)
Summary	404	(1)
Suggested Reading	404	(1)
Chapter 15 Clinical and Forensic Settings	405	(39)
Aim	405	(1)
Clinical Psychology: Neuropsychological Testing	405	(2)
Projective Techniques	407	(15)
Some Clinical Issues and Syndromes	422	(4)
Health Psychology	426	(10)
Forensic Psychology	436	(3)
Legal Cases	439	(3)
Summary	442	(1)
Suggested Reading	442	(2)
PART FIVE: CHALLENGES TO TESTING	444	(111)
Chapter 16 The Issue of Faking	444	(34)
Aim	444	(1)
Some Basic Issues	444	(5)
Some Psychometric Issues	449	(2)
Techniques to Discourage Faking	451	(2)
Related Issues	453	(2)
The MMPI and Faking	455	(5)
The CPI and Faking	460	(2)
Social Desirability and Assessment Issues	462	(3)
Acquiescence	465	(2)
Other Issues	467	(7)
Test Anxiety	474	(1)
Testwiseness	475	(1)
Summary	476	(1)
Suggested Reading	476	(2)
Chapter 17 The Role of Computers	478	(23)
Aim	478	(1)
Historical Perspective	478	(1)
Computer Scoring of Tests	479	(1)
Computer Administration of Tests	480	(5)
Computer-Based Test Interpretations (CBTI)	485	(4)
Some Specific Tests	489	(2)
Adaptive Testing and Computers	491	(3)
Ethical Issues Involving Computer Use	494	(1)
Other Issues and Computer Use	495	(1)
A Look at Other Tests and Computer Use	496	(3)
The Future of Computerized Psychological Testing	499	(1)
Summary	500	(1)
Suggested Reading	500	(1)
Chapter 18 Testing Behavior and Environments	501	(36)
Aim	501	(1)
Traditional Assessment	501	(1)
Behavioral Assessment	502	(4)
Traditional vs. Behavioral Assessment	506	(1)
Validity of Behavioral Assessment	506	(3)
Behavioral Checklists	509	(1)
Behavioral Questionnaires	510	(11)
Program Evaluation	521	(1)
Assessment of Environments	522	(4)
Assessment of Family Functioning	526	(4)
Broad-Based Instruments	530	(5)
Summary	535	(1)
Suggested Reading	535	(2)
Chapter 19 The History of Psychological Testing	537	(18)
Aim	537	(1)
Introduction	537	(1)
French Clinical Tradition	538	(1)
German Nomothetic Approach	539	(2)
British Idiographic Approach	541	(1)
American Applied Orientation	542	(8)
Some Recent Developments	550	(3)
Summary	553	(1)
Suggested Reading	553	(2)
Appendix Table to Translate Difficulty Level of a Test Item into a z Score	555	(2)
References	557	(85)
Test Index	642	(4)
Index of Acronyms	646	(2)
Subject Index	648