Psychometric tests and assumptions about normality

Psychometrics is a field within psychology concerned with the theory and techniques of measurement, especially the objective measurement of traits that cannot be directly observed. What shapes the line between normality and abnormality in psychological testing, and how can you understand that line? The lessons consider how tests measure people and how assumptions about normality can affect their interpretation.

2 articles, 1 video, 1 book · about 36 min of reading and viewing

The reading path

1. Read
   

   psychometrics · Wikipedia · 21 min read

   An early psychometric approach to measuring intelligence was a test developed in France by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon. Lewis Terman of Stanford University adapted the French test for use in the U.S. and named it the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Psychometrics includes standards for test development, evaluation, and use, described in the 2014 revision of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing published by AERA, APA, and NCME. The Standards cover validity, reliability/errors of measurement, and fairness in testing.

2. Read
   

   Personality Assessment | Intro to Psychology Class Notes | Fiveable · Fiveable · 4 min read

   The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a self-report personality test in clinical psychology, uses true/false items to assess personality traits and psychopathology. It can help diagnose mental disorders, plan treatment, and track progress over time.

3. Watch
   

   Brains vs. Bias: Crash Course Psychology #24 · YouTube · 11 min watch

   Hank examines WAIS and WISC intelligence tests, including how bias can affect their results and usefulness.

4. Book
   

   The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry · Bookshop.org

   The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson argues that people are increasingly defined by their maddest edges, raising questions about how personality judgments are made.

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