Developmental psychology.pdf

Tests and Measurement 347
Early Developments
The first significant demand for assessment of a large population, coming at a time
when experts could provide it, occurred wjth the entrance of the United States into
World War I. The American Psychological Association, the chief organization for psychologists
in this country, was 25 years old at the time, and several of its members had
become specialized in the construction and use of psychological tests. In an attempt
to aid the war effort, this organization immediately offered its services to the United
States Army, with the result that all kinds of tests were prepared for military personnel.
Group Tests The reader is undoubtedly familiar with group tests, administered to
many people simultaneously and scored by machine or by people with relatively little
training. Also called pencil-and-paper tests, the answers are indicated merely by making
pencil marks on a printed form, and the advantage in these procedures lies in this
efficiency. The Army Alpha was administered to 1.7 million literate persons. Later,
the Army Beta, a nonverbal test, was developed for use with illiterate persons (Haney,
1981).
The value of these tests as a screening device became readily apparent. When
used for screening, a test indicates those candidates who are obviously unsuited for the
position in question. The aim is not to select the most qualified people, which can be
a highly intricate task, but rather to identify in an efficient manner the people for whom
the position is clearly inappropriate. A screening test is a first hurdle; in applying to
become a pilot, presumably Captain Holmgren surmounted it readily.
These tests indicated the people who were unsuitable for military service, and
they were also used for assigning people to certain jobs. Soon similar tests appeared
in the schools and were designed to be used with other information in making decisions
about promotion and grade placement. The Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Tests, available
for students from kindergarten through high school, are relatively modern versions
of these earlier tests (Figure 13.2).
А В С D E
Most group tests have two significant limitations. The first concerns the test
questions, which the examinees must read and answer without individual attention
from the test administrator. These questions are largely verbal items, placing a heavy
emphasis on the use of words, which does not always reflect a person's mental ability.
Second, the test administrator cannot be sure that each subject understands the instructions,
is suitably motivated, and is in a proper condition to be taking the test.
Problems in these areas can lead to spuriously low test scores.
A simple rule for interpreting the results of group tests stresses the difference
between high and low scores. High scores probably represent a high level of ability. It
is unlikely that the test results indicate a higher capacity than the person possesses.
Low scores must be considered with more skepticism. For various reasons, a person
may perform far below his or her true capacity.*
Individual Tests Less familiar than group tests are individual tests, which are timeconsuming
and expensive because the test is administered to only one person at a time.
A highly trained examiner observes carefully as the subject responds by speaking or
by performing some overt actions rather than by writing.
Figure 13.2
Group Tests. This item, involving
figure analogies, illustrates those on
the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test,
a group test for use at all school
levels.
*l have had a number of
unfortunate experiences with group
testing. . . . One Saturday before
a SAT test, I woke up early enough
to have a leisurely breakfast with
those of my family who were up,
including my usual morning fare of
three cups of coffee, plus an extra
one or two for nervousness. After
finishing half the exam, a fiveminute
break occurred, during
which I made a much-needed trip to
the women's room, only to find it
locked and that no one had the key.
Obviously, the effects of my bladder
on the rest of my body as well as
on test scores were disastrous.