Tests in Europe: Where We Are and Where We Should Go

Abstract

Psychometric practice does not always converge with the advances of psychometric theory. In order to investigate this gap, the authors focus on the 10 most used psychological tests in Europe, as identified by recent surveys. The article analyzes test manuals published in 6 different European countries for these 10 most used tests. A total of 32 test manuals (11 for cognitive ability tests, 7 for personality measures, and 14 for clinical measures) are analyzed in terms of their congruence with the latest precepts of the Joint Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing and the Guidelines of the International Test Commission. These two documents are seen as reflecting the latest accomplishments in psychometric theory and as sound recommendations of best psychometric practice. Issues related to reliability; measurement error; consistency as related to a measurement model, validity, validation procedure, scales, norms, and score comparison; and test adaptation are analyzed for each test manual. The data show a gap between psychometric practice and psychometric theory. The authors try to explain the reasons for this gap and suggest ways of closing this gap in the future.

Avances, proyectos y retos internacionales ligados al uso de tests en Psicología

“…Estudios recientes señalan que de los 10 tests más utilizados en Europa, 9 fueron construidos en lengua inglesa (Elosua & Iliescu, 2012), y de los 25 tests que más se utilizan en España, por citar un ejemplo, 17 son adaptaciones de versiones construidas en otro idioma (Elosua, 2012). El uso de versiones adaptadas del mismo test en diferentes países, o incluso el uso de un test dentro del mismo país con grupos minoritarios, exige la utilización de normas de estandarización específicas.…”

Ikasleen arrazoibide kognitiboa aztertzeko euskarazko proba. Ezaugarriak eta sexuaren araberako desberdintasunak

“…Testak erabiltzeko, ordea, printzipio psikometrikoak errespetatzen dituzten tresnak eduki behar dira, eta orain arte Euskal Herrian ez dugu izan gure ikasleen gaitasun intelektualak neurtzeko berariazko probarik. Gabezia larri hori gainditzeko asmoarekin 2010. urtean Arrazoiketa-Proba Andanaren egokitze-prozesuari ekin zitzaion (Elosua eta Almeida, 2016), eta lan honen helburua Arrazoiketa-Proba Andanaren oinarri teorikoak azaltzea, horren ezaugarri psikometrikoak aztertzea eta sexuaren arteko desberdintasunak analizatzea da.…”

“…Ondoko taulak BPR forma bakoitzak hartzen dituen eskalak, atazak eta item kopurua jasotzen ditu. BPR euskaratzeko Nazioarteko Testen Komisioak emandako gomendioak jarraitu dira zehatz-mehatz (Elosua, 2003(Elosua, , 2005Muñiz, Elosua eta Hambleton, 2013). Andana euskaratzeko aurrerantzeko-egokitze bikoitza deritzon teknika erabili da.…”

“…Fidagarritasuna, fidagarritasun-koefizientearen bitartez ematen da, eta horren balioa 0-1 tartean dago (Elosua, 2005). Zenbat eta altuagoa izan koefizientea, orduan eta fidagarriagoak izango dira testaren bitartez lortzen diren puntuazioak.…”

What Role Does, and Should, the Test Standards Play Outside of the United States of America?

“…This same trend is seen in music, film, and television where American ethnocentrism drives those markets, and therefore likewise the U.S. test Standards seldom pays attention to developments in other parts of the world. Therefore, the development of test standards in other jurisdictions in the world are influenced by the U.S. Standards (e.g., Elosua & Iliescu, ; Geisinger, ; Muñiz, Fernández‐Hermida, Fonseca‐Pedrero, Campillo‐Álvarez, & Peña‐Suárez, ) and the academic journals, education, and training transfer the (culturally specific) conventions codified in the Standards .…”