Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Theory of Assessment and Intellectual Functioning
Notecards for the PSYC640 final
51
Psychology
Graduate
12/05/2010

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
When evaluating an assessment instrument, what are some things to think about?
Definition
  • What the test is supposed to measure
  • How the constructs are measured
  • What the scores mean and how they are normed
  • Validity and reliability
  • Administration rules
Term
Why might a less-than-ideal measure be used?
Definition
  • It is the only instrument available to you
  • Some of the information is useful to you, but not all of it
Term
What would you do if an instrument you are using has questionable reliability or validity?
Definition
Use other instruments to back up your observations.
Term
What would you do if the norms provided for a test do not match up with your client's demographics?
Definition
Use the closest available norms for comparison.
Term
What is the most important guideline to remember when using a less-than-ideal measure and reporting the results?
Definition
Always interpret results cautiously and note very clearly in the report why the results might be questionable.
Term
What part of the brain is executive functioning associated with?
Definition
The frontal lobe (specifically the prefrontal cortex).
Term
What is executive functioning?
Definition
A collection of skills that allow an individual to engage in higher-order behaviors and thinking.
Term
What are some examples of executive functions?
Definition
  • Organization and use of information
  • Formation of plans
  • Multitasking
  • Reasoning
  • Recognition of the consequences of behavior
Term
On a standard IQ test, how might someone with executive dysfunction perform?
Definition
Relatively normally, but with difficulties in tasks that involve novel information/problems or flexibility.
Term
What specific sorts of task-related skills might an individual with executive dysfunction have trouble with?
Definition
Set shifting, multitasking, working memory, and fluency (both verbal and non-verbal).
Term
What WISC and WAIS indices and subtests are the most sensitive to executive dysfunction?
Definition

WMI and PSI indices

 

Digit span, LNS, Arithmetic, Coding, Symbol Search, Cancellation subtests

Term
How is the GAI useful in someone with executive dysfunction?
Definition
It gives a better estimate of their overall intellectual ability than the FSIQ, because it excludes the indices that are particularly sensitive to executive dysfunction.
Term
What are some behavioral observations that could be indicative of executive dysfunction?
Definition
Difficulty following or remembering directions, needing lots of breaks, inattention
Term
What is currently the leading conceptualization of intelligence?
Definition
Cattell-Horn Carroll (CHC) Theory
Term
What two intellectual theories were combined to make the CHC theory?
Definition
Cattell - Horn Gf-Gc theory and Carroll's Three-Stratum Theory
Term
What are the three layers of CHC theory?
Definition
  • General intelligence factor
  • 8-10 broad abilities
  • Specific abilities
Term
What is some evidence supporting CHC theory?
Definition
Structural validity and factor analytic studies supporting the broad ability constructs; evidence that the abilities are stable over time and do not vary over age, race, or gender; relationships between CHC scores and outcomes
Term
What are the four Wechsler Indices?
Definition
  • Verbal Comprehension
  • Perceptual Reasoning
  • Processing Speed
  • Working Memory
Term
What are the five Keith factors on the WAIS?
Definition
  • Short-Term Memory (Gsm)
  • Visual Processing (Gv)
  • Fluid Reasoning (Gf)
  • Crystallized Ability (Gc)
  • Processing Speed (Gs)
Term
What are the eight clinical clusters on the WISC?
Definition
  • Fluid Reasoning (Gf)
  • Nonverbal Fluid Reasoning (Gf-nonverbal)
  • Verbal Fluid Reasoning (Gf-verbal)
  • Visual Processing (Gv)
  • Lexical Knowledge (Gc-VL)
  • General Information (Gc-K0)
  • Long-Term Memory (Gc-LTM)
  • Short-Term Memory (Gc-STM)
Term
Verbal Comprehension Index
Definition
Understanding of and reasoning with verbally presented information
Term
Perceptual Reasoning Index
Definition
Visuospatial ability, non-verbal reasoning, and problem-solving
Term
Working Memory Index
Definition
Registration and mental manipulation of novel information
Term
Processing Speed Index
Definition
Speed in problem-solving with novel information
Term
Short-Term Memory
Definition
Registration and holding of novel information for quick use
Term
Visual Processing
Definition
Solving of problems by registering, manipulating, and thinking about visually-presented information
Term
Fluid Reasoning
Definition
Performance of non-automatic, novel tasks using reasoning abilities
Term
Processing Speed
Definition
Fluent and automatic performance of cognitive tasks, especially when attention and concentration are required
Term
Nonverbal Fluid Reasoning
Definition
Performance of novel tasks that do not require language or short-term memory
Term
Verbal Fluid Reasoning
Definition
Understanding of language and ability to reason with verbal stimuli
Term
Lexical Knowledge
Definition
Extent of vocabulary
Term
General Information
Definition
Range of general knowledge
Term
Long-Term Memory
Definition
Knowledge stored in long-term memory
Term
What are the steps to the cross-battery approach (XBA)?
Definition
  • Look at the referral information and identify CHC abilities to be tested
  • Make a priori hypotheses
  • Select an intelligence battery and supplemental tests
  • Administer, score and assess tests
  • Repeat as needed
Term
What are the null and alternate hypotheses in XBA?
Definition

Null: performance on chosen tests will be normal

 

Alternate: performance on chosen tests will not be normal

Term
Under what circumstance do you form a posteriori hypotheses and begin the XBA cycle again?
Definition
When the null hypothesis is rejected; this indicates that there is a problem and we need more information.
Term
Test-retest reliability
Definition
How likely an individual is to get the same score on two different administrations of a test
Term
Alternate/Parallel Forms Reliability
Definition
How likely an individual is to get the same score on different forms of the test
Term
Split-Half Reliability
Definition
How likely an individual is to get the same score on two matched halves of the test
Term
Inter-Scorer Reliability
Definition
How often different raters agree on the scores they are giving
Term
Internal Consistency
Definition
The extent to which items that are supposed to measure the same characteristic are correlated
Term
Content Validity
Definition
How fully and adequately a test measures the underlying construct
Term

Criterion-Related Validity

 

(2 types)

Definition

How well a test score can be used to predict an individual's standing on a relevant variable

 

Concurrent or Predictive

Term
Incremental Validity
Definition
The degree to which additional information added augments knowledge of targeted criterion
Term

Construct Validity

 

(2 kinds)

Definition

The degree to which the test correlates with the construct it is supposed to be measuring

 

Convergent or Discriminant

Term
Face Validity
Definition
How much a test appears to be measuring what it is supposed to measure (just glancing at it)
Term
How are reliability and validity related?
Definition
Need to have both to have a useful measure; cannot have validity without reliability
Term
What is utility?
Definition
How practical a measure it to use in real life.
Term
What subtests are affected by fine motor skills?
Definition
Block design and anything that requires writing or drawing.
Term
What subtests are affected by anxiety?
Definition
The subtests that are timed or that require working memory (Digit Span, Arithmetic, LNS, Coding, Symbol Search)
Term
What subtests are influenced by cultural background?
Definition
Vocabulary, Information, Comprehension, Picture Completion, Picture Concepts, Word Reasoning, Arithmetic, Similarities
Supporting users have an ad free experience!