The Paper of PsychometricsThe Use of Psychometric Tests on Real Life Setting

Maryam Qonita (1125134596)Class: B 2013

Psychology MajorState University of Jakarta2015

AbstractThis paper analyzes the use of psychometric on real life setting. Recently, psychometrics test has been applied in the measurement of personality traits, attitudes, beliefs and academic achievement. This is a cumulative report on the findings of various exploratory that were done by psychologists. Information was gathered to establish which psychometric tests are used and for what purposes. Following the identification of these uses, a number of recent developments are discussed and the analyzes are made to further of integration of psychometrics tests and real life setting, such as organization/company setting, educational setting and clinical setting.Keyword: Psychometric Test, Real Life Setting, Recent Developments, Measurement

What Is Psychometric Test?Psychometric tests are structured and standardized assessment procedure which is enables a psychologist to measure aspects of a clients psychological functioning (New Zealand Psychologist Board). There are so many aspects of psychological functions, such as personality, attitudes, beliefs, and academic achievement. Psychometric tools vary in the degree of formality between structured observations, such as questionnaires, surveys, etc. (New Zealand Psychologist Board).

The Use of Psychometric Tests on Real Life SettingA. Company / Organizational Setting

1. Selection Process of Job VacanciesThe Psychometric tests are use when selection process for job vacancies. They provide us reliable information about the kind of skills that the job applicants have (Jenkins, 2001). Actually, the tests are genuinely useful in searching out job applicants with the right skills and attributes. Since the 1980s, business in the UK has been making increasing use of psychometric tests as part of the selection process for job vacancies. (Jenkins, 2001) The tests attempt to measure the abilities, attributes, personality traits and various skills of the candidates under consideration for particular vacancies. As well as, they have an ability to help the recruiter filter out unsuitable candidates (Wittering, 2014). So, it is also more important reasons for tests use in organization sectors.

2. Classification and Placement of Employees (Right Man for The Right Job)The importance of personality tests for career placement has been accepted by most of the job providing organizations. Selecting the right person for the job has never been more important than it is today (Holloway, 2001). However, psychometric tests are also used for place employees into certain positions which is suitable with their specific skills. A placement agency uses them as a way to figure out what types of jobs offer the best fit for you.(Kokemuller, 2014) According to the experts (and this is one of those rare fields where there arent many), job fit refers to the degree to which a persons cognitive abilities, interests and personality dynamics fit those required by the job. (Chuck Russell Right Person Right Job, Guess or Know) Poor job fit as been associated with job dissatisfaction, higher levels of job-related stress, and intentions to leave the organization (Lovelace and Rosen, 1996).The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment tool is a common test that gives you one of several general profile descriptions based on your responses. (Kokemuller, 2014)

3. Evaluate The Job PerformanceAfterwards, each member of organization or each companys staff is evaluated and considered to determine if it contributed to the final outcome reached by the group or not (Van der merwe, 2002). It uses to answers the question: How well employees job performance? In psychometrics, the final outcome are often simply evaluated through the examination of observed scores, without testing the invariance of measurement models that relate these scores to psychological attributes. (Borsboom, 2006)

4. Personal development / identification of training needs / staff developmentThe assessments are also aimed at assisting individual employees in gaining insight into themselves, and into their responses to change, stress and team work and to indicate preferred roles and working environments for the purpose of their own self-development. Staff development itself represents an intentional effort by supervisors and administrative leaders of student affairs to improve staff members' effectiveness, leading to improved organization effectiveness. ( Winston & Creamer, 1997)

B. Educational Setting

1) Prescribe the academic curriculumThe curriculum promotes the integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes fundamental on students (APA, 2013). In this context, the basic competencies must be based on the objective measurement of the students ability (Krause, 2015). These models include both formative (ongoing) and summative (end point) assessment approaches.

2) Measure Students IntelligenceThe first psychometric instruments were designed to measure the concept of intelligence. The best known historical approach involves the Stanford-Binet IQ test developed by Alfred Binet, a French psychologist. IQ tests are useful for various purposes. (Wikipedia) For student, IQ Test use to determine if some students have a learning disability or if they are gifted and should receive more advanced classes. Often, if a child is performed better or worse than expected in school, many teachers and administrators will request that the child takes and IQ Test to determine their logical and reasoning capabilitiesBinet research goal was to help teachers adapt their teaching methods to the needs and abilities of individual students. Students with a weakness in math, for example, could receive special attention in this specific area.

3) Technical Requirements and TestingThe word "test" refers to any systematic and standardized method of obtaining information about some aspect of human behavior. A psychological test is a sample of behavior taken under standardized and highly regimented situations. (Fogarty, 2014). As the notes indicate, some schools admissions required their students-candidate to meet their standard behavior. So, they use psychological assessment to determine the eligibility or to determine if a disability is related to a students challenging behavior, such as using measures of ability and achievement to identify a learning or cognitive disability. (Canter, 2003). Generally, psychologists evaluation procedures fall into the following categories: Standardized tests, Rating scales, self-report scales, observations, interviews, comprehensive evaluations, etc.

4) Discover Students Talent & PassionThe psychological assessments are also aimed to discover students talent and passion. Its important for discover students talent and passion, because discovering and claiming something you love to do has an amazing effect on your entire life (Biali, 2012)We can even misunderstand purposes in the first place, a mindset that becomes a roadblock (Tartakovsky, 2013), Tanksley said. We make it too heavy, too mysterious, too serious. But actually, Tanksley has a simple but powerful definition of purpose: authenticity. Purpose is finding your authentic self, and setting the intention to live in a way that honors whatever it is you find.

C. Clinical Setting

1. Mental Health AssessmentMental health assessment done to find out some mental health problems, such as anxiety,depression,schizophrenia,Alzheimer's disease, anorexia nervosa, etc. A mental health assessment may be done by primary care doctor or by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker. The doctor will ask some questions and examine their client / patient. So he can collects information about his patient. The goal of collecting this information is to improve mental health systems. (WHO, 2005) Its important because it involves the health-related quality of life. A mental health assessment for a child is geared to the child's age and stage of development. (WebMD, 2013)

2. Clinical Decision MakingDecision making is a broad term that applies to the process of making a choice between options as to a course of action (Thomas et al 1991). Clinical decision making by health professionals is a more complex process, requiring more of individuals than making defined choices between limited options. Health professionals are required to make decisions with multiple choices (e.g. diagnosis, intervention, interaction and evaluation). Also, clinicians are required deciding what information to gather, which tests to order, how to interpret and integrate this information to draw diagnostic conclusions, and which treatments to give is known as clinical decision making.Clinicians must integrate a huge variety of clinical data that they gathered from psychological assessment, while facing conflicting pressures to decrease diagnostic uncertainty, risks to patients, and costs. (Douglas L. McGee, DO, 2010)

3. PrognosisPrognosis (Greek "fore-knowing, foreseeing") is a medical term for predicting the likely outcome of one's current standing. (Wikipedia). Based on the psychological assessment, prognostic estimates can be very accurate. Example, doctor say his patients prognosis is good. And, he could have a hopeful for the futures life.

References American Psychological Association, (June 2014). Intelligence and Achievement Testing: Is the Half-Full Glass Getting Fuller? Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/research/action/intelligence-testing.aspx Biali, Susan. (2012) Five Steps to Finding Your Passion. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prescriptions-life/201205/five-steps-finding-your-passion. Borsboom, D. (2006) THE ATTACK OF THE PSYCHOMETRICIANS PSYCHOMETRIKAVOL. 71, NO. 3, 425440: UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2779444/ Canter, A. ( November 2003). Psychological Evaluations: What Every Principal Should Know. Retrieved from: http://www.nasponline.org/resources/principals/Psychological%20Evaluations%20November%2003.pdf Classic IQ Quiz. What Are IQ Scores Used For? Retrieved from: http://classiciqquiz.net/what_are_iq_scores_used_for.php 2009 Dictionary: Prognosis. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prognosis Douglas L. McGee, DO. (2010) Introduction to Clinical Decision Making. Retrieved from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/special-subjects/clinical-decision-making/introduction-to-clinical-decision-making Fogarty, Gerard J.(2014).PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba, QLD, 4350. Retrieved from: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gerard_Fogarty/publication/237464946_Chapter_15_PRINCIPLES_AND_APPLICATIONS_OF_EDUCATIONAL_AND_PSYCHOLOGICAL_TESTING/links/00b7d527afef355e76000000.pdf Jenkins, A (2001) Companies Use of Psychometric Testing and the Changing Demand for Skills: A Review of the Literature. Retrieved from: http://cee.lse.ac.uk/ceedps/ceedp12.pdf Kokemuller, N. (2014) Personality Assessment for Job Placement. Retrieved from: http://work.chron.com/personality-assessment-job-placement-6470.html Krause, J., Portolese Dias, L., Schedler, C. (2015) Competency-Based Education: A Framework for Measuring Quality Courses : Washington University. Retrieved from: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring181/krause_dias_schedler181.html Megan, S., Higgs, J., & Ellis, E. (2007). Factors influencing clinical decision making. Retrieved from: http://www.elsevierhealth.com/media/us/samplechapters/9780750688857/9780750688857.pdf Merwe, V. (2002). Psychometric Testing and Human Resource Management: Journal of Industrial Psychology, 2002, 28(2), 77-86: University of Port Elizabeth Retrieved from: http://www.sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/viewFile/52/50 New Zealand Psychologist Board (February 2013). Guidelines on the use of Psychometric Tests. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologistsboard.org.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=254 New Zealand Psychologist Board (February 2013.). Guidelines of the Use Psychometric Tests. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologistsboard.org.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=254 Queensland health. What is a Mental health assessment? Retrieved from: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/mentalhealth/docs/assessment.pdf Tartakovsky, M. (2013) 6 Clue Finding Your Purposes & Passions. Retrieved from: http://psychcentral.com/lib/6-clues-for-finding-your-purpose-and-passion/0007053 WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise. (2013) Mental Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-assessment WIKIPEDIA. Prognosis. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis WIKIPEDIA. Psychometrics. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychometrics Wittering, J. (2014). How Big Data Is Changing The Face of Recruitment Retrieved from: http://www.astuta.com/big-data-changing-face-recruitment/ WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (2005) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/AIMS_WHO_2_2.pdf