Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology Testing

The Ethical and Social Implications of Testing Provide an overview and brief evaluation of the ethical and social implications of psychological assessment. Professional Responsibilities Describe the responsibilities of both test publishers and test users. Testing Individuals Representing Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Analyze and describe issues related to the testing of cultural and linguistic minorities. Reliability Explain the common sources of measurement error and how measurement error can impact reliability. Validity Describe the extra validity concerns related to testing. Review the articles by Fergus (2013), Kosson, et al. (2013) and Mathieu, Hare, Jones, Babiak, & Neumann (2013). Analyze the information presented in these articles on factor analysis and describe how it is used to validate the constructs of the instruments. Clinical Versus Statistical Prediction Compare clinical and statistical prediction of mental health decisions based on the work of Ægisdóttir, et al. (2006) and Grove & Lloyd (2006). Application Two: Evidence-Based Medicine Summarize Youngstrom’s (2013) recommendations for linking assessment directly to clinical decision-making in evidence-based medicine. Elaborate on each of Youngstrom’s recommendations by providing practical examples that illustrate the relevance of the recommendations in a clinical setting. Application Three: Selecting Valid Instruments Create a research hypothesis or brief clinical case scenario in which you must select an instrument to measure intolerance for uncertainty. Use the information in the Fergus (2013) article to support which measure to use. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index?item=12  
Psychological assessment is a complex and multifaceted process that has a number of ethical and social implications. Professional Responsibilities Both test publishers and test users have ethical responsibilities when it comes to psychological assessment. Test publishers are responsible for developing and validating tests that are reliable and valid. They must also provide clear and accurate information about the tests to potential users. Test users are responsible for using tests in a responsible and ethical manner. They must be familiar with the limitations of tests and must use them only for their intended purposes. Testing Individuals Representing Cultural and Linguistic Diversity When testing individuals from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, it is important to be aware of the potential for bias. Tests may be biased in terms of the content, language, or administration procedures. It is important to select tests that are appropriate for the specific cultural group being tested. Reliability Reliability refers to the consistency of test scores. A reliable test will produce similar scores over repeated administrations. There are a number of factors that can affect reliability, including the length of the test, the difficulty of the items, and the scoring procedures. Validity Validity refers to the accuracy of test scores. A valid test will measure what it is supposed to measure. There are a number of different types of validity, including content validity, criterion validity, and construct validity. Extra Validity Concerns In addition to reliability and validity, there are a number of other factors that can affect the interpretation of test scores. These are known as extra validity concerns. Some of the most important extra validity concerns include:
  • Bias: Tests can be biased against certain groups of people, such as those from different cultural or linguistic backgrounds.
  • Stereotype threat: The fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group can lead to lower test scores.
  • Response styles: People may respond to tests in a way that is not consistent with their true abilities or attitudes.
Clinical Versus Statistical Prediction Clinical prediction refers to the use of professional judgment to make decisions about mental health. Statistical prediction refers to the use of statistical methods to make decisions about mental health. There is a debate about the relative merits of clinical and statistical prediction. Some experts believe that clinical prediction is more accurate, while others believe that statistical prediction is more accurate. Application Two: Evidence-Based Medicine Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an approach to medical practice that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. EBM has been increasingly applied to psychological assessment. Youngstrom (2013) has made a number of recommendations for linking assessment directly to clinical decision-making in EBM. These recommendations include:
  • Using standardized assessment instruments that have been validated for the specific clinical decision being made.
  • Using statistical methods to combine the results of multiple assessments.
  • Integrating the results of assessments with clinical expertise and patient values.
Application Three: Selecting Valid Instruments When selecting an instrument to measure a particular construct, it is important to consider the following factors:
  • The purpose of the assessment.
  • The psychometric properties of the instrument.
  • The cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the instrument.
  • The availability of training and support for the instrument.
In the case of intolerance for uncertainty, Fergus (2013) recommends using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). The IUS is a well-validated instrument that has been used in a variety of clinical settings. In conclusion, psychological assessment is a complex and multifaceted process that has a number of ethical and social implications. It is important to be aware of these implications when conducting psychological assessments.

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Psychological assessment is a complex and multifaceted process that has a number of ethical and social implications.

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