Measurement Scales, Referencing, and Norms
This week, you were introduced to four scales of measurement, easily remembered with the acronym NOIR, and include:
Nominal.
Ordinal.
Interval.
Ratio.
Each of these levels or scales of measurement has its own properties, methods for assigning numbers or scores, and procedures for statistically manipulating them. As noted in your Psychological Testing and Assessment text, and adhering to a fundamentalist view of measurement statistics, all possible attributes in psychology can be examined through at least one of these four scales and the creation of scores that purport to measure them.
You also read about two methods for evaluating those scores by comparing them to a reference set of data—namely, norm-referenced testing and assessment and criterion-referenced testing and assessment. Each of these methods is unique in the focus regarding a test's scores or results.
In your discussion post for this week, follow the guidelines below:
Part I: Scales of Measurement and Referencing
Provide at least one example of a psychological construct or attribute that can be measured in your specialization or a related profession for each scale of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio) that is not in your Psychological Testing and Assessment text.
Provide at least one example of a psychological construct or attribute that can be measured in your specialization for each type of referencing (norm-referenced and criterion-referenced).
Provide a statement that evaluates which scale of measurement appears to be the most useful for examining attributes in your specialization or a related profession. Explain why it is the most useful.
Evaluate which method of referencing (norm or criterion) appears to be the most useful for examining attributes in your specialization or a related profession. Explain your decision based on the area of focus regarding the test results. For example, identify if it is preferable to focus on how one individual performs relative to others who took the same test, or if it is preferable to only focus on what the individual can or cannot do.
Part II: Norms
Explain the different types of norms and the sampling procedures used when developing norms for a standardized test.
Identify one use and one limitation for each type of norm.
Must have 2 cited references
APA 7th edition
Week 2: Measurement Scales, Referencing, and Norms
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Week 2: Measurement Scales, Referencing, and Norms
Part I: Scales of Measurement and Referencing
Nominal Scale: It can measure psychological attributes such as personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, among others).
Ordinal Scale: Psychological resilience (low, moderate, high)
Interval Scale: It can be used to measure psychological attributes such as mental age, emotional intelligence, and intelligence quotient (IQ)
Ratio scale: It can measure attributes such as chronological age and intelligence quotient (IQ)
Norm-Referenced: Percentile rank on an intelligence test
Criterion-Referenced: Meeting a certain standard of clinical diagnosis
The ratio measurement scale appears to be the most useful for examining attributes in my specialization. As Allanson and Notar (2020) assert, one characteristic of the ratio scale is the lack of an arbitrary zero. In other words, it allows for the measurement of true zero, meaning the absence of a characteristic, and the ability to compare and make mathematical calculations on the data. This is particularly useful in health psychology, where it is essential to study physical health and its relationship with mental health.
In my specialization, the criterion-referenced method is the most useful for examining attributes because it focuses on what the individual can or cannot do rather than on how they compare to others. This is particularly useful in psychology, where the focus may be assessing and developing individuals' skills and abilities for specific jobs or tasks. The criterion-referenced method allows for a more individualized approach to assessment and development, particularly in occupational psychology.
Part II: Norms
Three main types of norms can be used when developing a standardized test in psychology tests; age-based, grade-based, and population-based ...