4 Of Testing and Testing

• A trait has been defined as “any distinguishable, relatively enduring way in which one individual varies from another”
• States also distinguish one person from another but are relatively less enduring
• Psychological traits exist as constructs - an informed, scientific concept developed to describe or explain behavior.
• Cumulative Scoring – test score is presumed to represent the strength of the targeted ability or trait or state.
• Error refers to a long-standing assumption that factors other than what a test attempts to measure will influence performance on the test.
• Error variance - the component of a test score attributable to sources other than the trait or ability measured.
• Reliability: The consistency of the measuring tool: the precision with which the test measures and the extent to which error is present in measurements.
• Validity: The test measures what it purports to measure.
• Norm-referenced testing and assessment: a method of evaluation and a way of deriving meaning from test scores by evaluating an individual test taker's score and comparing it to scores of a group of test takers.
• Norms are the test performance data of a particular group of test takers that are designed for use as a reference when evaluating or interpreting individual test scores.
• Normative Sample: is that group of people whose performance on a particular test is analyzed for reference in evaluating the performance of individual test takers.
• Norming, refers to the process of deriving norms. It may be modified to describe particular type of norm deviation.
• Standardization: The process of administering a test to a representative sample of test takers for the purpose of establishing norms.
• Sampling – Test developers select a population, for which the test is intended, that has at least one common, observable characteristic.
• Stratified sampling: Sampling that includes different subgroups, or strata, from the population.
• Stratified-random sampling: Every member of the population has an equal opportunity of being included in a sample.
• Purposive sample: Arbitrarily selecting a sample that is believed to be representative of the population.
• Incidental or convenience sample: A sample that is convenient or available for use. May not be representative of the population.
• Percentile - the percentage of people whose score on a test or measure falls below a particular raw score. A popular method for organizing test-related data because they are easily calculated.
• Age norms: average performance of different samples of test-takers who were at various ages when the test was administered.
• Grade norms: the average test performance of test takers in a given school grade.
• National norms: derived from a normative sample that was nationally representative of the population at the time the norming study was conducted.
• National anchor norms: An equivalency table for scores on two different tests. Allows for a basis of comparison
• Subgroup norms: A normative sample can be segmented by any of the criteria initially used in selecting subjects for the sample.
• Local norms: provide normative information with respect to the local population’s performance on some test.
• criterion-referenced tests - test takers are evaluated as to whether they meet a set standard (e.g., a driving exam).
• Norm-referenced tests - involve comparing individuals to the normative group.