PSYC37H3 Chapter 3: Chapter 3.docx
Document Summary
This chapter concerns two basic concepts: norms, reliability. Scores on psychological tests are interpreted by reference to norms that are based on the distribution of scores, obtained by a representative sample of examinees. A norm group consists of a sample of examinees who are representative of the population for whom the test is intended. The most basic level of information provided by a psychological test is the raw score. In personality testing, the raw score is often the number of questions answered in the keyed direction for a specific scale. Raw score in isolation is absolutely meaningless. A raw score becomes meaningful mainly in relation to norms, an independently established frame of reference derived from a standardization sample. Norms are empirically established by administering a test to a large and representative sample of persons. The vast majority of psychological tests are interpreting by consulting norms; these instruments are called norm referenced tests.
