Practical Psychometrics A Guide for Test Users

This is the first practitioner-oriented guide to basic psychometrics--the science behind test construction and validation. It is an essential course text and clinical reference for anyone who needs to select and administer diagnostic tests or review test score data obtained by others. Without assuming any mathematical background, the author describes the fundamentals of diagnostic testing, how to interpret score data, and how specific tests are used in school psychology, special education, counseling, and other contexts. Concepts such as reliability, validity, and fairness and test bias are explained in an accessible, conversational way. Detailed case examples illustrate the dos and don'ts of presenting test score data to clients, parents, and teachers in oral feedback and written reports. Pedagogical Features: *End-of-chapter exercises that emphasize application and understanding, with answers at the end of the book. *Key terms are bolded throughout and accessibly explained in the end-of-book glossary. *Resource appendix--annotated guide to articles and books on more advanced topics in psychometrics, assessment, and testing.

Preface 1. Introduction to Testing - Four Testing Stories - A Preview of the Book - Basic Terms in Testing - Tests as Assessment Tools 2. Statistical Concepts - Univariate Descriptive Statistics - Bivariate Descriptive Statistics: Correlation and Regression - Group Differences - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 3. The Meaning of Test Scores - Norm-Referenced Scores - Whats Normal? Whats Not? - Issues in Norm-Referenced Score Interpretation - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 4. Reliability - Defining Reliability - Evaluating a Tests Reliability: Background - Practical Ways of Estimating Reliability - Interpreting and Applying Reliability Estimates - Reliability of Differences and Profiles - Item Response Theory - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 5. Validity - Tests, Constructs, and Inferences - Types of Validity Evidence - Validity and Classification - Evaluating Validity Evidence - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 6. Factor Analysis - EFA: A Few Motivating Examples - Reviewing EFA Data - Factor Analysis and Diagnostic Testing - Factor Analysis and Validity - Confirmatory Factor Analysis - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 7. Bias and Fairness - The Problem of Group Differences - Test Bias and Psychometric Validity - Contrasting Bias with Other Problems - Fairness in Test Use - Conclusions - Applied Exercises 8. Sharing Test Results - The Oral Feedback Session - The Written Report - Conclusions Appendix A. Resources for Further Study Appendix B. Answers for Applied Exercises Glossary References Index About the Author

Benjamin J. Lovett, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he teaches courses in psychoeducational assessment, legal and ethical issues for school psychologists, and the history of psychology. Dr. Lovett has over 100 publications, focusing on the assessment of high-incidence disabilities, the provision of testing accommodations, and the nature and management of test anxiety. He also serves as a consultant to schools and testing agencies on disability and assessment issues.