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Review and Selection of a Standardized Test

Standardized Tests

Introduction

Standardized tests are used in psychology as techniques for measuring different people’s problems aspects. Such tests are different in types and are used in the psychology profession. Standardized tests are used as diagnosis tools for mental illness related disorders. This standardized tests assess different aspects in mental aspect factors including achievements, personality, aptitude, intelligence, interests and other mental conditions. Specific categories of the tests can be identified and examples of the related tools used in the specific tests. This paper will focus on personality tests. The specific tests include NEO Personality inventory, HEXACO Model of Personality Structure and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). A comparison of the tools is an important discussion in this paper.

Element 1

Revised NEO Personality serves as an important standardized test tool that is used to measure the five basic personality traits which are included in the five factor model. These five personality traits include openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Each of these five traits encompasses six different subcategories. Such inventory constitutes a total of 240 entities and their usefulness can be applied to both the children and adults. The revised NEO personality test can be done by counselors, doctors, educators, psychologists and psychiatrists in evaluation of individuals’ mental state

HEXACO personality model is used in evaluation of different dimension of personalities and theoretical interpretations. The personality dimensions that are measured by the HEXACO model include honesty-humility, emotionality, openness to experience, extraversion agreeableness and conscientiousness. This inventory combines sets of 60 100 and 200 questions. HEXACO model of personality test can be self-administered through access and filling out of a test questionnaire Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is used is assessment of personality and psychopathology among the adults. This tools bases its test on ten different scales. The ten scales comprise of hypochondriasis, psychastenia, psychopathic paranoia, deviate, masculinity or femininity, depression hysteria, social introversion, hypomania and schizophrenia. This test involves 567 questions that are formulated on the true-false basis. A shorter version of the test contains 338 questions designed and structured as the full version. This inventory is relevant in diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Critical professionals are also subjects to this test in assessing their mental health stability before join such professions (Anglim, Lievens, Everton, Grant & Marty, 2018).

Element 2

NEO-PI-R is used in measurement of the five important personality traits in assessments of individuals psychological states. The items and subcategories utilized in this test are ascertained by the important aspects captured in the test. Reliability in this test is very high and provides consistency thus accounting for its suitability in the measurement purposes. The test encompasses assessment and evaluation of individual’s mental state. This tool is effective thus it efficiently serves its purposes. The revision of this tool accounts for its relevant application in the field of psychology. The components utilized in this test ensures their appropriateness to employees, adults, persons with learning problems and children (Detrick & Chibnall, 2017).

The HEXACO model encompasses similar features as the NEO-PI-R and thus portrays similar suitability aspects in the context of psychological tests. One important difference has been the inclusion of the personality of honesty humility factor. Addition of this factor provides a new dimension which forms a basis of assessing individuals’ personality. This test exhibits easy administration which accounts for its suitability and usability as a testing tool (HEXACO, 2019). MMPI cuts across several aspects of mental health issues making it an effect tool in assessment of different psychological problems. This methodology also exhibits higher clinical reference making it highly recommended in psychological testing. All these effective aspects accounts for its application in addressing mental health issues in workplace setting.

Element 3

NEO-PI-R utilizes 240 items in conjunction with other items relating to validity making it extensive (Hesselmark, Eriksson, Westerlund & Bejerot, 2015). The simplicity characteristic of this test accounts for its effectiveness in addressing children concerns at the level of the 6th grade and able. Simplicity enable such children to answer the question s with ease. Application of different forms of the test also help in attainment of relevant and valid test outcomes. Application of self-reporting for adult women and men is the basic concern. However, the utilization of observer reports creates a supplement self-reported information. The 5-likert scale provides feasibility in terms of outcomes from the measurements of the psychological factors. This tool’s questionnaire creates effectiveness in information collection. Calculation of T scores is done from the collected normative data (Maples-Keller et al, 2019).

In HEXACO model, each domain has specific scales used in measuring the scores based on the different dimensions. The 60 HEXACO scales indicate minimal correlations between the different scales exhibiting highly internal consistency levels. Observer and self-reports exhibit higher correlations which is a proof of reliable test results. HEXACO elements therefore advance the understanding of the specific phenomenon afar the five factor model. This test includes all important aspects creating positive impact in mental health comprehensively (De Vries et al, 2016).

Employing the true- false based questions create simplicity in the application of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The questions also cover all thematic areas relating to mental health capacity issues and personalities. Different forms of test are utilized by this inventory thus creating an expanded scope of the psychological testing tool. Each scale features distinctive questions which are designed to be user oriented. Validity scales evaluates honesty and accuracy thus providing vital instruments to gauge representativeness in the test results (Bianchini et al., 2019).

Element 4

Revised NEO test can be termed as a self-report tool that doesn’t necessitate any technical skills. The requirements are simply the abilities in reading, understanding the questions and writing. In this context, there are qualification requirements. However, the overseer reports require qualified expertise. The qualification required are in accord to the specific field of professional applying the tools in their practice. Users in self-reporting can conduct questions assessment via online administration which accounts for simple questions structuring. The self-reported tests qualification level is A. This level encompasses the guidelines for participation of children and also provide guidance on intervention and the materials. Level C qualification is requirement for the observer reports and it require graduate level qualifications. Education and training are the key competencies for the professional and provide the required skills in the application of NEO testing (Maples-Keller et al, 2019).

Methods similar to the revised NEO tests are also utilized in the HEXACO test model. This necessitates the aspect of detail sharing with reference to knowledge, skills and trainings. HEXACO model employ both Self-reports and observer reports. The observer reports require qualification trainings whereas self-reports don’t require such qualifications. The MMPI tests administration require vast and reliable knowledge on the appropriate application of the test with reference to selective administration and results interpretations. Participants in the test are required to understand the questions in the test thus making them qualify under level A group user qualification. Professional in administration of the test require certified trainings thus qualifying them for Level C qualifications (Sellbom, 2019)

Comparison

The series of question in all the tests serve the purpose of constructing individual psychological profiles. Each test exhibits different number of questions depending on the specific dimensions of the tests. MMPI inventory employs the closed endned questionnaire techniquie whereas the HEXACO and NEO model tests utilizes open ended questionnaires. HEXACO and NEO model exhibit more alignmened since they employ the five factor model.A difference exist in terms of the subcategories that are utilized in developing the test and also inclusion the honesty humility factor in the HEXACO model (De Vries et al, 2016)

An important factor in the tests is that they apply self-administering concept although professional administration may be applied in some contexts. HEXACO and NEO have observer reports and self-reports. This forms an important similarity in the two psychological tests. MMPI is utilized in diverse forms including MMPI-2 that is adult focused and the mmPI-2 RF. They both exhibit complete versions that encompasses all the components necessary and shortened versions that have fewer questions for shorter completion durations. Development of the tests is aimed at mental state assessments and personalities of peoples (Dalpé, Demers, Verner-Filion & Vallerand, 2019).

Test evaluations indicate that suitability in assessing psychological components of personality in peoples is the key characteristic. HEXACO and NEO are distinct with refrence to user qualifications levels thus sharing the important parts in psychological testing. MMPI is different in terms of its process and the elements on its test implementations (Maples-Keller et al 2019).

HEXACO is the most preferred model (Wilson, 2016). Its preference is based on the abilities in assessing and predicting phenomenon evident in big five model. Addition of a new factor; honesty humility creates completeness compared to the NEO revised model tests. Test under HEXACO are highly recognized in terms of their applications. This creates suitability for its attention. Use of this model necessitates evaluation of different variable in personalities that other test tools have failed to effectively evaluate. This test is therefore an important component of interest in psychological testing field of study.

References

Anglim, J., Lievens, F., Everton, L., Grant, S. L., & Marty, A. (2018). HEXACO personality predicts counterproductive work behavior and organizational citizenship behavior in low-stakes and job applicant contexts. Journal of Research in Personality, 77, 11-20.

Bianchini, K. J., Aguerrevere, L. E., Curtis, K. L., Roebuck-Spencer, T. M., Frey, F. C., Greve, K. W., & Calamia, M. (2018). Classification accuracy of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)-Restructured form validity scales in detecting malingered pain-related disability. Psychological assessment, 30(7), 857.

Dalpé, J., Demers, M., Verner-Filion, J., & Vallerand, R. J. (2019). From personality to passion: The role of the Big Five factors. Personality and Individual Differences, 138, 280-285.

De Vries, R. E., Tybur, J. M., Pollet, T. V., & van Vugt, M. (2016). Evolution, situational affordances, and the HEXACO model of personality. Evolution and human behavior, 37(5), 407-421.

Detrick, P., & Chibnall, J. T. (2017). A five-factor model inventory for use in screening police officer applicants: The revised NEO personality inventory (NEO PI-R). In Police psychology and its growing impact on modern law enforcement (pp. 79-92). IGI Global.

Hesselmark, E., Eriksson, J. M., Westerlund, J., & Bejerot, S. (2015). Autism spectrum disorders and self-reports: Testing validity and reliability using the NEO-PI-R. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(5), 1156-1166.

Maples-Keller, J. L., Williamson, R. L., Sleep, C. E., Carter, N. T., Campbell, W. K., & Miller, J. D. (2019). Using item response theory to develop a 60-item representation of the NEO PI–R using the international personality item pool: Development of the IPIP–NEO–60. Journal of personality assessment, 101(1), 4-15.

Sellbom, M. (2019). The MMPI-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF): Assessment of personality and psychopathology in the twenty-first century. Annual review of clinical psychology, 15, 149-177.

Wilson, A. (2016). Is the HEXACO the new black? An examination of the predictive validity of NEO-PI-3 and the HEXACO-PI-R to determine if the six factor model of personality provides the most parsimonious assessment of an individual’s employment suitability.