Psychological Testing in Everyday Life : History, Science, and Practice (eBook)

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1: Introduction
Psychological Testing in Everyday Life
What Is a Psychological Test?
Categorizing Psychological Tests
The Science, History, and Practice of Psychological Testing
A Personal Note
Chapter 2: The Science of Psychological Testing: Fundamental Concepts
Reliability
Validity
Chapter 3: Psychological Testing in Education: Comparing Student Outcomes Across Nations With the PISA and the TIMSS
Psychological Tests in Education
International Comparisons of Educational Achievement: History and Goals
International Tests of Academic Skills: The PISA and the TIMSS
PISA versus TIMSS
Stan’s Experience with the PISA
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Psychological Testing in Applied Research
Applied Psychological Research: History and Goals
The MAP-DB, A Tool to Measure Temper Tantrums
Homesickness Research
Happiness
Jason’s Experience as a Research Subject
Conclusion
Chapter 5 • Psychological Testing in Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment
Assessment and Treatment of Mental Health Problems
The Role of Psychological Testing in the Mental Health Setting
Psychological Tests Used in Mental Health Settings: A History
Issues and Controversies
Best Practices in Psychological Assessment in Mental Health Settings
Outcomes Assessment
Therapeutic Assessment
Evaluating Derrick for ADHD: A Brief Case Example
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Psychological Testing in Medicine: Psychological Evaluation Prior to Bariatric Surgery
Psychological Testing in Medicine
The Problem of Obesity
Bariatric Surgery: History and Purpose
The Goals of Presurgical Psychological Evaluation
Selecting and Administering Psychological Tests to Prospective Bariatric Surgery Patients
Psychometric Issues
Joanne’s Experience with Psychological Testing Prior to Bariatric Surgery
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Psychological Testing in the Legal Arena: Child Custody in High Conflict Divorce
Psychological Testing in Child Custody Disputes: Mr. and Mrs. Kelly
A Brief History of Child Custody Evaluation
The Forensic Nature of Child Custody Evaluations
The Process of Child Custody Evaluations
Psychological Tests Used in Custody Evaluation
How Do Psychological Tests Contribute to Dr. Lissette’s Opinion About What Is in the Best Interest of the Kelly Children?
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Psychological Testing in Determining Disability: Intellectual Disability and the Death Penalty
Intellectual Disability and Capital Punishment: A Brief History
Why Does the Death Penalty Violate the Eighth Amendment for Defendants With Intellectual Disabilities?
Defining Intellectual Disability
Labeling and Describing Intellectual Disabilities
Diagnosing Intellectual Disability: IQ Testing
Measurement Error
Flynn Effect
Practice Effects
Malingering
Diagnosing Intellectual Disability: Assessment of Adaptive Functioning
Is Randi Intellectually Disabled? A Brief Case Study
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Psychological Testing in the Workplace: Selecting Police Officers
The Relevance of Psychological Testing to Police Work
Psychological Tests and the Selection of Police Officers: An Introduction
Legal Considerations
Ethical Considerations
Current Practices
Choosing Psychological Tests for Selecting Police Officers
Interpretation and Communication of Test Results
Elinore and Elena: Different Test Results Lead to Different Outcomes
Conclusion
Chapter 10: Conclusion
The Importance of Psychometrics
The Challenges in Developing Good Tests
Controversies About Psychological Testing
The Past and Future of Psychological Testing
Key Takeaways
Index