Maggie K Only Psychology Homework Assignment

Running head: EVALUATION OF TESTING MATERIALS AND BEST PRACTICES 0

Evaluation of Testing Materials and Best Practices

Mark Einsel

Capella University

Evaluation of Testing Materials and Best Practices

Introduction

The standard test selected is based on the psychological disorder among patients and members of the society particularly veterans who have served in combat scenarios. The type of standardized testing involved may range from the Beck Hopelessness, Children Depression Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, dependent upon the subject’s criteria and time of event when the experience originated. These test items exist in various modes where computer generated results can generate the level of physical disorder permitting the therapist to understand the needs of the patient. The analysis generated by computer testing is effective enough that the level of psychological disorder is addressed effectively. These tests provide leading indicators that can be utilized to analyze the levels of depressive disorders. For instance, the Beck Hopelessness scale is used to assess the psychometrically sound is utilized to evaluate isolated variables which corresponds to hopelessness.

The use of sound helps to obtain a rather accurate data that can obtain a better understanding of the state of mind the individual is subjected under this test, for example those contemplating suicide and other thoughts. The Beck Hopelessness scale is utilized primarily by the United States military in assessment of the stages of depression (Frumkin, 2003), this is because of its ability to provide accurate data or leading indicators on the stages of depression. Essentially, the score will have a range from zero to sixty and thus the higher the score gives an indication of higher stages of depression, which indicates the level of severity the individual is experiencing.

The positive aspect of these test items is the test stands to be an important feature that has been able to improve the status of non-inferiority. This has ensured the test cannot be replaced by treatment. The purpose of the test is to improve the ability of the patient to actively control the depressive disorder. This is a preferred option, which is desired under most circumstances, and although this treatment may not effectively offer diagnosis, this affords the measurement of hopelessness. The negative aspect behind the Beck Depression Inventory is it does not provide the ability to collect data from patients that are below the age of 13, it therefore focuses on delivering data of teenagers.

Therefore, the depression disorder among kids may not be able to be recorded and thus they cannot be able to control the depression level (Fulmer, 2009). This suggests the scale may not be able to help in controlling and managing disorders among children. There appears to be an adverse effect and taking into consideration the child may grow into adulthood with depression, which may not be controllable or manageable upon adulthood when the test item could begin to represent data that can be evaluated. The appropriateness of the test items indicates the BDI as highly reliable, this is due to its characterization as indicated by alpha qualities of 86 for psychiatric and 81 of non-psychiatric patients. Therefore, making the item appropriate in assessing any depressive disorder ranging from suicidal thoughts and dysfunctional attitude. BDI could assist the clients’ and assess their idiosyncratic accounts, this is where they can manage and assess their own symptoms.

As such, it validates the test item appropriate for use for non-depressed psychiatric patients (Gilbert Leckie, 2015). The Beck Hopelessness scale on the other hand is a very reliable test item because it is able to give the feedback on hopelessness instantly. What this evaluation indicates specifically, is an appropriate measure that is incorporated to reduce the rate of hopelessness, this was effective in a study that was conducted in Nigeria where so many nurses of Nigeria appeared in a state of hopelessness. Consequently, they were screened of depressive symptoms and psychological distress. The screening was found to be important in trying to reduce the level of depression among the Nigerian students and the result indicated the test to be an appropriate item.

Evaluate representative samples of test questions or practice tests, directions, answer sheets, manuals, and score reports before selecting a test;

In an attempt to assess the level of depression based on test questions that are asked to the clients being observed under the Beck Hopelessness scale, such questions must have the ability to indicate the level in which the person is able to portray about the future. If the client’s response displays an undesirable attitude about the future, it becomes apparent at this juncture the test signifies a notable change in a client suffering from hopelessness. When BDI is utilized the level of sadness, prior failures, pessimism, lacking pleasure, feeling of guilt, punishment feelings, suicidal view or desires, insomnia, lack/increase of appetite, lack of sex drive, lack of interest and weariness or exhaustion is evident.

These sample questions are able to provide the true status of hopelessness regarding the client and becomes an effective measurement in which samples can be collected (Rhoads, 2013). It is imperative to select sample questions prior to selecting a test. This is to ensure the test item selected by the person carrying out the test has expectations that will be met by the answers. What this suggests is the questions should have the ability to invoke emotions, since emotions trigger the body to react and thus the answers that will be provided will be truthful. This would become a key feature a psychologist must evaluate when attempting to assess the level of depressive disorder or hopelessness of the client.

Evaluate procedures and materials used by the test developers, as well as the resulting test, to ensure that potentially offensive content or language is avoided;

When test developers are coming up with materials they should first advise the test users on the level of test accuracy, which will include the precision of the test scores. When developing the materials to be utilized they must represent concerns that would initially indicate or represent the emotional status of the test user. This is done by ensuring the materials are detailed, appropriate and capable of coming up with necessary information identifying the results as they are intended.

As an example, when utilizing the Beck Hopelessness test, the developer must establish a test that can indicate or assess their attitude towards the future. This will guarantee the material utilized is being investigated accurately. It is imperative to measure and evaluate the verbiage of language so it does not become offensive, create the ability to affect the test or cause bias and if offensive verbiage is evident the test must be modified so it is suitable for the client.

If offensive language is present, the context needs to be understood in advance by the test user. As an example, when coming up with material that is going to be ensued by a military officer, there are certain words that might appear to be offensive, therefore, the test developer needs to understand the specifics of the client taking the test. This is because it will assist him or her in developing the appropriate test that can be utilized without having offensive language.

Understanding the person taking the test is important when carrying out a BDI, as with the case of conducting a test on a child, as such, a therapist cannot start asking about sexual satisfaction so as to evaluate the depressive disorder. The important factor here is understanding the test user while preparing the test, as with this situation, the test-user will be able to assist in the avoidance of offensive language (Ruggero, 2014).

Fair and Appropriate materials

To ensure the language used is not offensive, the test must be perused using its Mental Measurement Yearbook audit. The use of the audit is ensued to make judgements about the nature of the test. The purpose of the short lesson is to help one to see and understand the use of MMY audit so as to make judgments. This therefore ensures the test may not be able to affect the test user in any offensive manner, especially in terms of discrimination regarding their race, gender and cultural beliefs. The premise of the data analyst helps with the necessary data report that will be able to ensure the test is of good quality and it does not contain any biased elements or any administration that can be able to affect the mindset of the client. This will be in terms of questions indicating undesirable activity and fairness.

The use of technology

Technology has come in handy in trying to solve the issue of disability. There are various software programs that have been developed to ensure clients with disabilities are still capable and available to take the test. The best test that is open to modification is the BDI, this is due to the many factors that can be used to assess the depressive disorder of the individual who is considered to be disabled. When looking at the Becks Hopelessness scale it focuses on the attitude of the person towards the future, at times this is possible to predict the outcome of persons with disabilities since he or she may have some negative attitude towards the future. Although the BDI appears to be broad it still provides situations where the test can be adjusted to accommodate such clients with disabilities to take the test, this will, therefore, ensure that the materials are effective.

Technology has been utilized to capture and safeguard that fairness will be achieved. Additionally, the client is capable of understanding the questions that he or she will be asked generally. The premise of the test is to guarantee that fairness is maintained, it is, therefore, a requirement that the users of the test are updated on the mode of questions and types of questions that will be used so that the client can continue with the selected test. The growth in technology has been used mostly by non-psychiatrics, this is because the tests are now available online and the patients can be able to carry out the assessment by themselves. This has been able to improve the status of depression disorder.

Synthesis of findings

The major strength of the BDI is it contains alpha of 86 to psychiatrist and 81 to non-psychiatrist. Statistically speaking, this indicates that the scale is accurate in giving its data, this means the data provided is accurate. When the scale reads at 86 and 81 correspondingly it indicates that the level of depression is high. This provides clients suffering with depressive disorders the ability to come up with ways to acknowledge the situation and find methods to help control the mental disorder.

One of the major weaknesses pertaining to this test is it does not support test users who are below the age of 13, this has been a challenge since the level of control cannot be exercised among children, because the item does not support them. The level of accuracy of this test item is effective, it proves to be effective if utilized by non-psychiatrist, potentially a therapist assisting a child below the age of 13.

Select tests with appropriately modified forms or administration procedures for test takes with disabilities who need special accommodations.

Individuals who take BDI or Becks Hopelessness test are doing so to indicate a level of their depressive disorder, but to some extent they have been hindered with disabilities. Therefore, the test developers have been left with options to come up with modifications that can enable the disabled client to take the test. When it comes to the administration procedure it is important to note technology has been able to solve some of the problems that would have resulted to the test user not being able to take the test due to disability. As an example, there are computerized forms, card form test which requires users who have sufficient reading ability to understand and answer the question. This ensures that the client with a disability has the ability to administer the test themselves and have access to the computerized generated answers that offer the client the level of depressive disorder or hopelessness they are experiencing.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In conducting a depression disorder test, it is important to select a test item that will be able to give or rather provide accurate data to the client. This improves the ability of the patient to control the disorder rather than treating it since it has been found that some of the items utilized to test the depressive disorder are more effective than treatment. The ability of the test user to control the depressive disorder is essential, this affords the client the ability to understand what to do when they are experiencing depression, this is unlikely to happen when they are under medication since they seem not to be in control.

The following are the recommendations that would be made:

1. There needs to be improvement of the items for testing, this is to increase accuracy and efficiency.

2. People with disabilities should have their own form of test item that specifically focuses on their disorder(s), this will serve to help and improve their depressive situation since the item will be created to focus on their living conditions and their disability.

3. The BDI test item should be enhanced so it can provide or rather be used on test users below 13 years. This will help to improve the control level of children that are experiencing depression disorder.

Reference

Frumkin, L. (2003). Code of Fair testing practices In Education. Joint Committe On Testing Practices, 5-8.

Fulmer, G. W. (2009). Estimating Critical Values for Strength of Alignment Among Curriculum, Assessments, and Instruction. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics , 36 (3), 381-402.

Gilbert Leckie, R. P. (2015). Multilevel Modeling of Social Segregation. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics , 37 (1), 3-30.

Rhoads, C. (2013). The Implications of “Contamination” for Experimental Design in Education. Journal of Educational Behavior Statistics, 36 (1), 76-104.

Ruggero, D. W. (2014). Development of a Measure of experientail avoidance. Psychological assesment, 23(3), 692.