Foundations of Psychological Testing: A Practical Approach

"I used McIntire and Miller's book on testing in my research course two years ago. Students loved this book for its clarity and personality. It is hard to imagine how the authors could have improved on the first edition. Nevertheless, this new edition of the Foundations of Psychological Testing is better than any of its competitors. The authors should be congratulated for making a topic that has been formidable to students in the past much more accessible to today's students." -- Douglas Herrmann, Emeritus Professor, "Indiana State University;" Director of Research, "Practical Memory Institute" The Second Edition of Foundations of Psychological Testing: A Practical Approach is a scholarly, yet pragmatic and easy to understand text for students new to the field of psychological testing. Using an engaging, conversational format, authors Sandra A. McIntire and Leslie A. Miller aim to prepare students to be informed consumers--as test users or test takers--not to teach students to administer or interpret individual psychological tests.New to the Second Edition: Incorporates new content: This edition includes a new chapter on computerized testing and is updated throughout to reflect new research, tests, and examples. Offers new learning strategies: To further promote student comprehension, new and enhanced learning aids include a "blueprint" of text material, "In the News" and "On the Web" boxes, "Test Spotlights," and an "Engaging in the Learning Process" section at the end of each chapter with learning activities, study tips, and practice test questions. Encourages instruction through conversation: In response to students' requests to simplify complex concepts, the authors use an easy-to-read, conversational style. This format clearly and concisely communicates the basics of psychological testing and relates these basics to practical situations that students can recognize and embrace. Instructor's Resources on CD! Instructor Resources on CD are available to qualified adopters of Foundations of Psychological Testing, Second Edition. These resources include chapter outlines, discussion questions, teaching tips, review questions, and much more!Intended Audience: This is an ideal introductory textbook for undergraduate courses such as Psychological Testing, Psychological Tests & Measures, and Testing & Measurement in the departments of Psychology and Education.

Table of Contents:
Preface Our Mission Learning Strategies Organization of Material Final Thoughts Acknowledgments SECTION I: OVERVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Chapter 1: What are Psychological Tests? Why Should You Care About Psychological Testing? What Are Psychological Tests? The History of Psychological Testing Testing Today The Defining Characteristics of Psychological Tests Assumptions of Psychological Tests Test Classification Methods Psychological Assessment, Psychological Tests, Measurements, and Surveys Locating Information About Tests Chapter Summary Chapter 2: Why is Psychological Testing Important? The Importance of Psychological Testing Who Uses Psychological Tests and for What Reasons? The Social and Legal Implications of Psychological Testing Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Is There a Right or Wrong Way to Use Psychological Tests? Ethical Standards for Psychological Testing Appropriate Use of Psychological Tests Testing Special Populations Chapter Summary Chapter 4: How Does Computerized Testing Work? Computerized Testing Computerized Adaptive Testing Web-Based Assessment Implications for the Future Chapter Summary SECTION II: PSYCHOMETRIC PRINCIPLES Chapter 5: How Do Test Users Interpret Test Scores? Levels of Measurement Procedures for Interpreting Test Scores Standard Scores The Role of Norms Chapter Summary Chapter 6: What is Test Reliability? What is Reliability? Three Types of Reliability Classical Test Theory The Reliability Coefficient Using Computer Software to Calculate Reliability Interpreting Reliability Coefficients Factors That Influence Reliability Generalizability Theory Chapter Summary Chapter 7: What is Validity, Specifically Content Validity? Different Sources of Evidence for Validity The Appropriate Use of Various Validation Strategies Content Validity Face Validity Chapter Summary Chapter 8: Can Tests Really Predict Future Behavior? What Is Criterion-Related Validity? Methods for Determining Criterion-Related Validity Selecting a Criterion Does the Criterion Measure What It Is Suppose to Measure? Calculating and Evaluating Validity Coefficients Using Validity Information to Make Predictions Ethical Issues Associated With Test Validation Chapter Summary Chapter 9: What Is Construct Validity? Construct Validity? Gathering Evidence of Construct Validity Factor Analysis Chapter Summary SECTION III: DEVELOPING AND PILOTING SURVEYS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS Chapter 10: How Do We Construct, Administer, and Use Survey Data? What Are Surveys? Knowledge Acquisition and the Scientific Method The Survey Research Method Survey Reliability and Validity Chapter Summary Chapter 11: How Do You Develop a Test? Why Develop a New Test? Defining the Testing Universe, Audience, and Purpose Developing a Test Plan Composing the Test Items Writing Effective Items Writing the Instructions for the New Test Chapter Summary Chapter 12: How Do You Know When a Test Works? The Pilot Test Quantitative Item Analysis Qualitative Item Analysis Revising the Test Conducting the Validation Study Developing Norms and Identifying Cut Scores Developing the Test Manual Chapter Summary SECTION IV: USING TESTS IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS Chapter 13: How Are Tests Used in Educational Settings? Decision Making in the Educational Setting Educators as Test Users Psychological Test Use in Educational Settings Norm-Referenced, Criterion-Referenced, and Authentic Assessment of Achievement Chapter Summary Chapter 14: How Are Tests Used in Clinical and Counseling Settings? Models of Psychological Assessment Tests Used for Diagnosis and Intervention Neuropsychological Tests Specialized Tests for Clinical Disorders Chapter Summary Chapter 15: How Do Organizations Use Psychological Tests? A Short History of Employment Testing Preemployment Testing Performance Appraisal Chapter Summary APPENDIX A: Guidelines For Critiquing A Psychological Test APPENDIX B: Ethical Standards for Assessment APPENDIX C: Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education APPENDIX D: Table of Critical Values for Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients GLOSSARY REFERENCES Author Index Subject Index About the Authors

About the Author :
Sandra A.McIntire, Ph.D., received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and her doctor of philosophy degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of South Florida. She began her career in the human resources department of the city of Clearwater, Florida, and moved into consulting with Wilson Learning Corporation (WLC) as a senior project manager. At WLC, she developed the first retail video selection test, the Teller Selection Program (TAP). She also consulted with Fortune 500 companies such as Citibank NA, United Technologies, IBM, and General Motors. In 1991, she accepted a tenure track professorship in the department of psychology at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In addition to teaching social science statistics, research methods, and tests and measurements, she served as director of the psychology program for nontraditional students in Rollins’s Hamilton Holt School. She has collaborated on three books: The Job Analysis Kit, Organization Development: Strategies for a Changing Environment, and Foundations of Psychological Testing (first and second editions). In addition, she has served as a book reviewer for Personnel Psychology. She has collaborated on peer-reviewed research and made numerous presentations to national organizations such as the American Society for Training and Development, the American Psychological Association, and the Southeastern Conference on Teaching of Psychology. Dr. McIntire is now retired from Rollins College. Leslie A. Miller, PhD, SHRM-CP, PHR, has broad experience in consulting, teaching, and researching in the area of organizational and educational assessment, measurement, and development. Currently the owner of her own consulting business, LanneM TM, LLC, she provides her clients with pragmatic and affordable talent management solutions to help them acquire, develop, and retain the talent they need to achieve desired business results. Her expertise includes designing performance improvement and management tools and knowledge tests, customizing and facilitating leadership training programs, providing assessment-based executive coaching, and designing and implementing business impact evaluation and return-on-value studies. She also spends her time as an adjunct faculty member teaching organizational behavior and psychology, research, and human resources courses at Rollins College, the University of Oklahoma, and for the School of Advanced Studies at the University of Phoenix. In addition, she chairs doctoral dissertations. Previously the vice president of leadership development and human resources at the Central Florida YMCA, she was responsible for contributing to the strategic plans of the organization by leading the association’s talent management initiatives—recruiting, developing, and retaining the association’s talent. Prior to joining the YMCA, she was employed by Wilson Learning Corporation (WLC), a performance improvement company, where she served as the director of business solutions, a senior project manager, and a business solutions consultant. In these roles, she was responsible for conceptualizing, designing, managing, and implementing traditional and technology-based assessment, measurement, and training performance improvement solutions for client organizations.     Prior to joining WLC, Dr. Miller served as the assistant dean of admissions at Rollins College, where she was also a faculty member of the psychology, organizational behavior, and human resources programs. Before joining Rollins College, she was a senior research psychologist for the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Washington, D.C. At the bureau, she designed, researched, and analyzed the results of some of our nation’s most important surveys. In her current and previous roles, she has worked with various leading organizations in the high-tech, financial, pharmaceutical, and transportation industries. The holder of a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Maryland, she has an extensive list of publications and presentations. She is a member of the APA, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Society for Human Resource Management.  

Review :
"I used McIntire and Miller’s book on testing in my research course two years ago. Students loved this book for its clarity and personality. It is hard to imagine how the authors could have improved on the first edition. Nevertheless, this new edition of the Foundations of Psychological Testing is better than any of its competitors. The authors should be congratulated for making a topic, that has been formidable to students in the past, much more accessible to today’s students." "I am delighted that a new, revised edition of the text by Sandra McIntire and Leslie Miller will soon be issued. I have used the first edition of this text with positive results in my psychological tests and measures classes. The text is exemplary in its clear explanations of complex issues in testing. As well it provides coverage in areas not included in other texts, areas like survey construction and use, and it does all this in a very efficient fashion."