PSY 370 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
Why do we often use psychological tests to make (or help make) important decisions
about people? - ANSWER limited resources ; appropriateness of
treatments/interventions (e.g., how depressed are you)
Why are so many people uncomfortable with the use of psychological tests, especially
when they are used to make important decisions? - ANSWER
Why are both lawmakers and professional organizations concerned about regulating test
use? - ANSWER Concerned with the results of testing - adverse impact against minority
test-takers is viewed as discrimination...
... unless the test user can show that the test is valid and appropriate (and that there are
no better alternatives).
What does federal law say about testing in each of the following areas? (not in your
book!)
Discrimination
Disability
Education
Test-Taker's Rights - ANSWER
,Discrimination:
Who is protected? Why is this relevant to testing? - ANSWER Civil Rights Act, 1964 -
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and gender.
Applies to a wide variety of decisions - employment, education, housing, etc.
Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - among other things, sets
guidelines for fair and appropriate employment testing
Discrimination:
How are the consequences or results of the test considered in deciding whether
discrimination is occurring? - ANSWER If minority and majority group members get
different scores, is the problem with the test?
Or is there a real difference with another cause?
Discrimination:
Can a test show differences between majority and minority group members and yet not
be considered discriminatory? If so, when? - ANSWER
Disability: How should persons with disabilities be tested? When must schools and other
organizations make accommodations for a person whose disability might impair their
performance on a test? - ANSWER Education for All Handicapped Children, 1975 -
requires appropriate, professional testing of children suspected to have a disability.
-Goal is to determine child's educational needs and meet them.
,Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , 1997 - requires appropriate testing to
establish disability status and educational progress.
-Educational progress tests must accommodate students with disabilities as far as is
reasonably possible.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disabilities.
Education: How are tests used in the No Child Left Behind Act? - ANSWER No Child Left
Behind, 2001 - holds schools accountable for student improvement by assessing
progress on standardized tests.
Test-Takers' Rights: What rights are given to test-takers under federal law? - ANSWER
Test-Takers' Rights
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 1974 - parents and students have the right to
access school records, including tests.
-May request a hearing to challenge test scores.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 - individuals have the right to
know (and control) who has access to their medical information, including psychological
test results.
What is case law? How is it different from legislated laws and statutes? - ANSWER
Legislation is necessarily broad.
, Details of how to implement the law are often worked out over time.
When there is dispute about how to implement a law, it often ends up in court.
A judge's ruling sets precedent that other cases must follow unless the ruling is
overturned.
Within the same court level - state, appeals, supreme.
This means that the judge's ruling essentially tells us what will be considered legal or
illegal in the future.
Why do test users need to be aware of case law? - ANSWER
What are APA's five general ethical principles?
Be able to give examples of each in a testing context - not just a research context. -
ANSWER 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
-Do good; avoid doing harm. Consider the effects of your choices on others.
2. Fidelity and Responsibility
-Understand that you are in a position of trust. Be accountable; address conflicts of
interest.
3. Integrity
-Encourage accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness.
-When it's necessary to be deceptive, do so very carefully.
-Deception by omission counts too.
4. Justice
-Ensure that all people have equal access to services and equal quality of service.
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
Why do we often use psychological tests to make (or help make) important decisions
about people? - ANSWER limited resources ; appropriateness of
treatments/interventions (e.g., how depressed are you)
Why are so many people uncomfortable with the use of psychological tests, especially
when they are used to make important decisions? - ANSWER
Why are both lawmakers and professional organizations concerned about regulating test
use? - ANSWER Concerned with the results of testing - adverse impact against minority
test-takers is viewed as discrimination...
... unless the test user can show that the test is valid and appropriate (and that there are
no better alternatives).
What does federal law say about testing in each of the following areas? (not in your
book!)
Discrimination
Disability
Education
Test-Taker's Rights - ANSWER
,Discrimination:
Who is protected? Why is this relevant to testing? - ANSWER Civil Rights Act, 1964 -
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and gender.
Applies to a wide variety of decisions - employment, education, housing, etc.
Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - among other things, sets
guidelines for fair and appropriate employment testing
Discrimination:
How are the consequences or results of the test considered in deciding whether
discrimination is occurring? - ANSWER If minority and majority group members get
different scores, is the problem with the test?
Or is there a real difference with another cause?
Discrimination:
Can a test show differences between majority and minority group members and yet not
be considered discriminatory? If so, when? - ANSWER
Disability: How should persons with disabilities be tested? When must schools and other
organizations make accommodations for a person whose disability might impair their
performance on a test? - ANSWER Education for All Handicapped Children, 1975 -
requires appropriate, professional testing of children suspected to have a disability.
-Goal is to determine child's educational needs and meet them.
,Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , 1997 - requires appropriate testing to
establish disability status and educational progress.
-Educational progress tests must accommodate students with disabilities as far as is
reasonably possible.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disabilities.
Education: How are tests used in the No Child Left Behind Act? - ANSWER No Child Left
Behind, 2001 - holds schools accountable for student improvement by assessing
progress on standardized tests.
Test-Takers' Rights: What rights are given to test-takers under federal law? - ANSWER
Test-Takers' Rights
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 1974 - parents and students have the right to
access school records, including tests.
-May request a hearing to challenge test scores.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 - individuals have the right to
know (and control) who has access to their medical information, including psychological
test results.
What is case law? How is it different from legislated laws and statutes? - ANSWER
Legislation is necessarily broad.
, Details of how to implement the law are often worked out over time.
When there is dispute about how to implement a law, it often ends up in court.
A judge's ruling sets precedent that other cases must follow unless the ruling is
overturned.
Within the same court level - state, appeals, supreme.
This means that the judge's ruling essentially tells us what will be considered legal or
illegal in the future.
Why do test users need to be aware of case law? - ANSWER
What are APA's five general ethical principles?
Be able to give examples of each in a testing context - not just a research context. -
ANSWER 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
-Do good; avoid doing harm. Consider the effects of your choices on others.
2. Fidelity and Responsibility
-Understand that you are in a position of trust. Be accountable; address conflicts of
interest.
3. Integrity
-Encourage accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness.
-When it's necessary to be deceptive, do so very carefully.
-Deception by omission counts too.
4. Justice
-Ensure that all people have equal access to services and equal quality of service.
