Psychometric

Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational measurement. The field is primarily concerned with the construction and validation of measurement instruments such as questionnaires, tests, and personality assessments.

History

The origins of psychometrics can be traced back to the work of Francis Galton, who is credited with developing the first formal test of intelligence. Galton's work was later expanded upon by Alfred Binet, who developed the first practical intelligence test, the Binet-Simon scale. The field of psychometrics has since evolved to include the study and development of measures of a wide range of psychological constructs.

Theory

Psychometric theory is based on a model of measurement that involves three components: a true score, an observed score, and error. The true score is the actual value of the trait being measured, while the observed score is the value obtained through measurement. The difference between the true score and the observed score is considered to be error.

Methods

Psychometric methods include both classical test theory and item response theory. Classical test theory is based on the assumption that each person has a true score that would be obtained if there were no errors in measurement. Item response theory, on the other hand, models the probability of each possible response to an item in terms of a mathematical function of person and item parameters.

Applications

Psychometrics has applications in a wide range of fields, including psychology, education, business, and healthcare. It is used in the development and validation of tests and measures used in these fields, as well as in the analysis of data obtained from these measures.

See also

• Educational psychology
• Intelligence quotient
• Personality psychology
• Psychological testing
• Psychology

References

Psychometric Resources
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