Psychological Assessment

Seniors’ In-Service Training

Worksheet #3

Name: ADEVA, Jayrah Kaye | LIMBARO, Clarice

Date: August 3, 2020

KEY TERM EXERCISE:

Key Term Definition

Inferences Logical deductions about events that cannot be

observed directly.

Descriptive statistics Methods used to provide a concise description of a

collection of quantitative information

Inferential statistics Methods used to make inferences from observations

of a small group of people to a larger group of
individuals

Scaling The application of rules for assigning numbers to

objects.

Magnitude The property of moreness; the ability to compare

Equal Intervals The size of a unit (or range of variables) is the same no
matter where it occurs on the scale.

Absolute Zero The point where nothing of the variable exists and,
therefore, no scores less than zero exist

Nominal Scale This scale of measurement is considered as the

simplest and involves classification/categorization
based on distinct traits

Ordinal Scale This scale of measurement also permits classification,

but rank ordering is permissible; it has no absolute
zero point

Interval Scale A scale of measurement that involves equal intervals

between numbers; it also has no absolute zero point

Ratio scale A scale that has all three properties.

 Key Term Definition

Frequency distribution Displays scores on a variable or a measure to reflect

how frequently each value was obtained. X axis would
contain the frequency of the scores while the Y axis
would contain the score.

Percentile rank What percent of the scores fall below a particular

score?

Percentiles Specific scores or points within a distribution; divide

the total frequency for a set of observations into
hundredths.

Mean Arithmetic average score in a distribution

Standard Deviation Equal to the square root of the average squared

deviations about the mean

Variance Equal to the arithmetic mean of squares of differences

between scores in a distribution and their mean

Z Score Conversion of a raw score into a number indicating

how many standard deviation units the raw is
below/above the mean of distribution

Symmetrical Binomial Probability Distribution Standard normal distribution

McCall’s T/T Score 50 plus or minus scale; it is composed of a scale that

ranges from 5 standard deviations below and above
the mean

Quartiles Points that divide the frequency distribution into equal

fourths

Mean The 50th percentile

Interquartile range Bounded by a range of scores that represents the

middle 50% of the distribution

Deciles Similar to quartiles except that they use points that

 mark 10%

Stanine Converts any set of scores into a transformed scale

which ranges from 1 to 9; comes from “standard
nine”; has a mean of 5 and a standard deviation of 2

Key Term Definition

Norms Test performance data of a particular group of test

takers that are designed for use as a reference when
valuation or interpreting individual test scores

Norm-referenced Test Method of evaluation and a way of deriving meaning

from test scores bye valuation and individual test
taker's score and comparing it to scores of a group of
test takers

Criterion referenced Test A method of evaluation and a way of deriving meaning

from test scores by evaluation an individuals score
with reference to a set standard
 PROPERTIES OF SCALES
Based on Kaplan & Saccuzzo’s book on Psychological Testing, there are three properties of scales. As such, you are
to fill out the table below to familiarize yourselves with them.
Properties of Scales Definition/Description
Magnitude The property of moreness
Equal Intervals The difference between two points
at any place on the scale has the
same meaning as the difference
between two other points that
differ by the same number of scale
units
Absolute Zero This is obtained when nothing of
the property being measured exists
Examples other than what is in the
book
A scale of weight can identify
whether one weight is heavier or
lighter compared to another
The difference between 3:00 pm
and 4:00 pm on a clock represents
the same quantity as the difference
between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm,
exactly one hour
When checking test scores, and a
student has a rate of 0, it would
lead to the conclusion that they
have no correct answers
 SCALES OF MEASUREMENT

To familiarize yourselves with the scales of measurement, please fill out the table below with the missing
information.

Scales of Measurement Magnitude, Equal Recommended measures What operations can you
Interval, Absolute Zero of central tendency do with this scale of
measurement; what type
(Just indicate M, EI, or of statistical analysis can
AZ) you make?

Nominal Mode Can be used to create

frequency distributions,
N/A but mathematical
manipulations are not
possible

Ordinal Mean Can be manipulated with

arithmetic, but results are
M difficult to interpret

Interval Mean, Median Any arithmetic operation

can be applied, and
M, EI results are interpreted in
relation to the
magnitudes of underlying
property

Ratio Mean, median Any mathematical

operation is permissible
M, EI, AZ

UNDERSTANDING THE STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Please refer to the picture above and answer the following questions:

1. If on a Depression test, your client had a T-score of 70, what would this indicate?

A T-score of 70 would indicate that a depressive disorder is likely to be confirmed.

2. A person has an IQ score of 55. What does that imply?

An IQ score of 55 implies that the individual has a score of below average intelligence.

3. What is a simple way to explain percentage of cases in the 8 portions of the curve?

34.13% of the scores lie between the mean and 1 standard deviation above the mean, and
another 34.13% of the scores lie below the mean. Adding the two percentages result to 62.26%, which
means that approximately two-thirds of the scores lie within one standard deviation of the mean. 13.59%
of the scores lie between one and two standard deviations above and below the mean. Adding it all
together leads to 95.44%, which implies that approximately 95% of the scores should lie within two
standard deviations of the mean to be a normally distributed variable. Almost all of the scores are within
three standard deviations of the mean, at 2.14% each, which leads to a total of 99.72%.

4. If a person has a Z score of 3.0, what does that mean?

This means that the person’s score is three standard deviations above the mean.

5. Based on the illustration above, describe what a percentile, a cumulative percentage, and a stanine score
 would tell us.
A percentile shows how an individual score compares to others’ scores within a particular group,
while a cumulative percentage indicates the percentage of scores at and below a given score. Both have a
mean of 50. On the other hand, a stanine has a mean of 5 and a standard deviation of 2.

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN NORM-REFERENCED AND CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTS

Indicate which are best assessed using norm-referenced or criterion-referenced tests by putting (NR) for norm-
referenced tests and (CR) for criterion-referenced tests.

1. The Board Licensure Examination for Psychometricians and Psychologists. (CR)

2. Your grade for the Senior’s In-Service Training (CR)
3. A test to learn about a student’s progress at school (NR)
4. You want to compare your score with your peers taking the same test. (NR)
5. Your school wants to know your standing compared to the rest of the students your age in the country
(NR)

Fill out the table below with 5 characteristics of Norm-referenced tests and criterion-referenced tests. You may
also put in examples.

Norm-Referenced Tests Criterion-Referenced Tests

 Compares each person with a norm Describes types, skills, or knowledge

Ranking people according to performance Measures performance of testtaker relative to

particular criteria/standard

Identifies problems and suggests new directions Will not determine quality in comparison with other
testtakers

A testtaker’s percentile rank is calculated according to Does not consider how other testtakers performed
others’ performance

Test is administered in a standardized format The designated “cut-off” score is already determined