Psychometrics (eBook)

Preface
About the Author
Chapter 1: Psychometrics and the Importance of Psychological Measurement
Why Psychological Testing Matters to You
Observable Behavior and Unobservable Psychological Attributes
Psychological Tests: Definition and Types
Psychometrics
Challenges to Measurement in Psychology
The Importance of Individual Differences
But Psychometrics Goes Well Beyond "Differential" Psychology
Suggested Readings
PART I. BASIC CONCEPTS IN MEASUREMENT
Chapter 2: Scaling
Fundamental Issues With Numbers
Units of Measurement
Additivity and Counting
Four Scales of Measurement
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 3: Individual Differences and Correlations
The Nature of Variability
Importance of Individual Differences
Variability and Distributions of Scores
Quantifying the Association Between Distributions
Variance and Covariance for “Composite Variables”
Binary Items
Interpreting Test Scores
Test Norms
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 4: Test Dimensionality and Factor Analysis
Test Dimensionality
Factor Analysis: Examining the Dimensionality of a Test
Summary
Suggested Readings
PART II. RELIABILITY
Chapter 5: Reliability: Conceptual Basis
Overview of Reliability and Classical Test Theory
Observed Scores, True Scores, and Measurement Error
Variances in Observed Scores, True Scores, and Error Scores
Four Ways to Think of Reliability
Reliability and the Standard Error of Measurement
From Theory to Practice: Measurement Models and Their Implications for Estimating Reliability
Domain Sampling Theory
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 6: Empirical Estimates of Reliability
Alternate Forms Reliability
Test–Retest Reliability
Internal Consistency Reliability
Sample Homogeneity and Reliability Generalization
Reliability of Difference Scores
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 7: The Importance of Reliability
Applied Behavioral Practice: Evaluation of an Individual’s Test Score
Behavioral Research
Test Construction and Refinement
Summary
Suggested Readings
PART III. VALIDITY
Chapter 8: Validity: Conceptual Basis
What Is Validity?
The Importance of Validity
Validity Evidence: Test Content
Validity Evidence: Internal Structure of the Test
Validity Evidence: Response Processes
Validity Evidence: Associations With Other Variables
Validity Evidence: Consequences of Testing
Other Perspectives on Validity
Contrasting Reliability and Validity
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 9: Estimating and Evaluating Convergent and Discriminant Validity Evidence
A Construct's Nomological Network
Methods for Evaluating Convergent and Discriminant Validity
Factors Affecting a Validity Coefficient
Interpreting a Validity Coefficient
Summary
Suggested Readings
Notes
PART IV. THREATS TO PSYCHOMETRIC QUALITY
Chapter 10: Response Biases
Types of Response Biases
Methods for Coping With Response Biases
Response Biases, Response Sets, and Response Styles
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 11: Test Bias
Why Worry About Test Score Bias?
Detecting Construct Bias: Internal Evaluation of a Test
Detecting Predictive Bias: External Evaluation of a Test
Other Statistical Procedures
Test Fairness
Example: Is the SAT Biased in Terms of Race or Socioeconomic Status?
Summary
Suggested Readings
PART V. ADVANCED PSYCHOMETRIC APPROACHES
Chapter 12: Confirmatory Factor Analysis
On the Use of EFA and CFA
The Process of CFA for Analysis of a Scale’s Internal Structure
CFA and Reliability
CFA and Validity
CFA and Measurement Invariance
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 13: Generalizability Theory
Multiple Facets of Measurement
Generalizability, Universes, and Variance Components
G Studies and D Studies
Conducting and Interpreting Generalizability Theory Analysis: A One-Facet Design
Conducting and Interpreting Generalizability Theory Analysis: A Two-Facet Design
Other Measurement Designs
Summary
Suggested Readings
Chapter 14: Item Response Theory and Rasch Models
Factors Affecting Responses to Test Items
IRT Measurement Models
Obtaining Parameter Estimates: A 1PL Example
Item and Test Information
Applications of IRT
Summary
Suggested Readings
Glossary
References
Subject Index
Author Index