Psychological Assessment & Measurement Techniques Flashcards

The Cleary model of test fairness defines a test as fair when:

Answer: The regression lines for predicting criterion performance are identical across subgroups

The Cleary model defines test fairness as the absence of differential prediction: the same regression line (same slope and intercept) predicts criterion performance for all subgroups.

Which statistical method is used to detect differential item functioning (DIF) in large-scale employment tests?

Answer: Mantel-Haenszel procedure

The Mantel-Haenszel procedure compares item response probabilities across groups (e.g., focal vs. reference) matched on total score, making it a standard DIF detection method.

A structured behavioral interview achieves higher validity than an unstructured interview primarily because structure:

Answer: Reduces interviewer error and bias by standardizing questions and rating scales

Structure reduces idiosyncratic interviewer effects, anchors ratings to observable behaviors, and standardizes the evaluation process, all of which improve reliability and validity.

The concept of 'synthetic validity' (job component validity) is most useful when:

Answer: Sample sizes are too small for traditional criterion-related validation in specific jobs

Synthetic validity links validity evidence from multiple job elements across jobs, allowing small organizations to build validity evidence where single-job samples are too small for traditional validation.

In a work sample test, which type of validity evidence is PRIMARILY demonstrated?

Answer: Content validity through job representativeness

Work sample tests derive their validity primarily from content: they directly replicate critical job tasks, so content validity evidence from job analysis is the primary justification.

The utility formula developed by Brogden, Cronbach, and Gleser estimates the dollar value of a selection system. Which variable has the GREATEST practical impact on utility in most organizational contexts?

Answer: Standard deviation of job performance in dollars (SD_y)

SD_y (the standard deviation of job performance expressed in dollars) has the greatest practical impact because utility is directly proportional to it, and it is often the largest and most variable parameter.

Which response set involves test-takers consistently choosing extreme response options (e.g., 'strongly agree' or 'strongly disagree') on Likert-scale items regardless of item content?

Answer: Extreme response style

Extreme response style is the tendency to select the most extreme endpoints of rating scales, which introduces systematic measurement error unrelated to the construct being assessed.