Psychometric principles refer to the scientific study of psychological measurement, and the use of tests and assessments to obtain personality or cognitive assessment data. The term psychometric often refers to testing of cognitive abilities, especially when used in intelligence testing. The psychometric approach seeks to develop and refine our understanding of the cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of intelligence, providing a more complete picture of cognitive ability than traditional methods.
Psychometric Testing
Psychometric testing involves measuring variables such as reasoning, spatial ability, verbal fluency, numeracy and perceptual speed and accuracy. These test results are standardized so that psychologists can assess individual differences in cognitive ability. The constructs that are measured by psychometric tests are important because they are related to academic and professional success, and can help people make more informed decisions about educational and career paths.
A common model of intelligence suggests that cognitive ability is composed of two factors: fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence represents the ability to reason, plan, and solve problems. In contrast, crystallized intelligence represents acquired knowledge and the application of that knowledge to problem-solving.
Psychometric tests can and should be designed to measure both types of intelligence. For example, Raven Progressive Matrices, a popular type of non-verbal intelligence test, was designed to measure fluid intelligence. SAT reasoning test and GRE is another example that measures crystallized intelligence.
Psychometric Properties
When evaluating psychometric properties of a test, psychologists look for three main characteristics:
1. Reliability: This refers to the degree to which a test provides consistent results. Test-retest reliability refers to the consistency of test scores over time, while inter-rater reliability refers to the consistency of scores across different raters.
2. Validity: This refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure. Construct validity is a type of validity that assesses the degree to which the test measures specific constructs or underlying traits.
3. Standardization: This refers to the use of standardized procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting the test results.
In addition to these properties, psychologists also consider other factors such as cultural biases, norms, and ethical considerations when developing and administering psychometric tests.
In summary, psychological measurement through the use of psychometric tests is vital to our understanding of individual differences in cognitive abilities. Psychometric tests provide standardized measurements of abilities, which can be used to assess academic potential and professional success. It is important that psychometric assessments are developed and applied with care and consideration for ethical, cultural, and legal concerns to ensure that the test results are reliable, valid and actionable.
