Examples Of Psychometrics
The term psychometrics refers to the design and interpretation of tests that measure psychological values such as aptitude, ability, personality, memory, happiness and intelligence. These tests are designed for, and given in, mental health, education and employment settings.
Types of Tests Designed in Psychometrics
Aptitude and Ability Tests
These tests may assess any of the following skills/abilities: Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, Numeric Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, Mechanical Reasoning, Data Checking, and Work Sampling.
Some test examples from the University of Edinburgh include:
- Modern Language Aptitude Test
- Morrisby Differentials Test Battery
- Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC)
- Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd ed. (Movement ABC-2)
- Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
- Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. 4th ed (PPVT4)
- Phonological Assessment Battery (PhAB)
- Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices
- Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus (SPM Plus)
- Renfrew Word-finding Vocabulary Scale. 3rd ed.
- The Speed and Capacity of Language-Processing Test (SCOLP)
Personality Tests
These tests are usually based on research by psychologists such as Carl Jung or Isabel Briggs Myers. These tests can be used to:
- Determine basic characteristics of an individual
- Assess their ability to fit in to a specific work environment or with specific personality types
- Increase self awareness and improve interactions with others
The University of Edinburgh identifies some examples of personality tests as:
- Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation Behavior (FIBRO-B)
- Motivation Analysis Test (MAT)
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
- Neo Five Factor Inventory (NEO FFI)
- Neo Four Factor Inventory (NEO-4)
- Neo Personality Inventory. Revised (NEO-PI-R)
- Occupational Interest Inventory
Memory Tests
Memory tests can be used for a variety of reasons. One excellent use for memory tests is to assess memory in children to determine or uncover any issues related to retention of information in the classroom that could interfere with learning.
The University of Edinburgh gives these examples:
- Benton Test of Three Dimensional Constructional Praxis
- Benton Visual Retention Test
- D2 Test of Attention
- Digital Vigilance Test (DVT)
- Doors & People: a test of visual and verbal recall and recognition
- Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test Extended Version (RBMT-E)
- Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test. 3rd ed (RBMT-3)
- Ruff 2
Psychological Tests
These tests help to measure traits, feelings or other characteristics that could suggest various forms of mental illness such as depression or increased anxiety.
Some examples from the University of Edinburgh include:
- Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS)
- Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS)
- Attitudes toward Doctors and Medicine Scale
- Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised ADI-R (for use only by those who have completed
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
- Bedford & Foulds Personality Deviance Scales
- Bedford & Foulds Delusions-Symptoms-States Inventory
- Bedford & Foulds Delusions-Symptoms-States Inventory State of Anxiety and Depression
- Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS)
Common Uses for Psychological Tests
In Employment
- Employee selection – Personality, knowledge and aptitude tests
- Individual development potential – Attitude and skills tests
- Team building potential – Personality and attitude tests
- Leadership development potential – Skills, personality and attitude tests
- Advancement and succession planning – Aptitude, attitude and personality tests
In Education
- Interest tests – Testing areas of motivation, aptitude and knowledge
- Aptitude tests – Testing mental and skill orientation
- Career selection – Testing what careers require the personality traits of the test taker
- Achievement potential – Testing psychological, skills, attitude and knowledge
- Personality tests – Testing psychological, personality traits and attitude
Unlike opinions, psychometrics provides a way to measure how a person’s personality could affect their ability to succeed in various situations. Now you have seen examples of different kinds of tests commonly used in the real world.
