Summary of Early Landmarks in the History of Testing

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Summary of Early Landmarks in the History of Testing"

Juliet Waters
5 years ago
Views:

1 Summary of Early Landmarks in the History of Testing 2200 B.C. Chinese begin civil service examinations. A.D Wundt uses a calibrated pendulum to measure the speed of thought Francis Galton administers the first test battery in London, England James McKeen Cattell uses the term mental test in the United States by announcing the agenda for his Galtonian test battery Clark Wissler discovers that Cattellian brass instruments tests have no correlation with college grades Binet and Simon invent the first modern intelligence test Stern introduces the IQ or intelligence quotient Lewis Terman revises the Binet-Simon scales Robert Yerkes spearheads the development of the Army Alpha and Beta examinations used for testing WWI recruits Robert Woodworth develops the first personality test Rorschach Inkblot test published Psychological Corporation the first major test publisher founded First edition of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank published Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale published Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory published Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children published. Psychological tests are significant in military selection. Roots in Army Alpha & Beta as pioneers in World War I. AFP adapted Neuro-Psychiatric (NP) screening in Ad Hoc Committee on NP Screening organized in 1978; recommended revision/filipinization of the NP tests. AFP General Classification Test revised as AFP Aptitude Test Battery (AFPATB) in 1991; used in AFPATB should have been revised once every two (2) years. AFPATB decentralized to Major Services starting Cases of test compromise/leakages reported in AFPATB review and redevelopment as PDR project. Project funding released in January 2010; AFPATB Summit conducted from 23 to 25 March After item analyses, new test items formulated and validated as AFP Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT) Challenges remain in sustaining test development. History of Psychological Testing in the Philippines 1924 Organization of Research, Evaluation and Guidance Division (originally Research & Measurement) of the Bureau of Education Establishment of Ateneo Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment (ACCESS) originally for psychological services but later focused its resources on testing and test development.

2 1962 Founding of Philippine Psychological Corporation (PhilPsyCor) as main retailer of psychological tests in the Philippines Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE) starts testing program FAPE works with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to design the first National College Entrance Exam (NCEE) FAPE institutionalizes the Center for Educational Measurement (CEM) that undertook testing and other measurement services since then MAVEC Specialists Foundation, Inc. registers with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Asian Psychological Services and Assessment Corporation came into being to answer the felt need for locally-developed psychological tests Passage of Republic Act 9258 professionalizing the practice of guidance and counseling to include psychological testing Passage of Republic Act 10029, otherwise known as the Psychology Act regulating the practice of psychological testing in the Philippines. Reminder: The military danger in the next few years of peace is that with carrying on the mental researches. I fear that some other nation may take up the mental analyses where we left them when the emergency ceased, and develop a real military psychology that will be more deadly than 42 cm. guns. LtComdr/ Professor Raymond Dodge USN Chairman, Sub-committee on Problems of Vision which have Military Significance, US National Research Council, March 1919 Review of Related Literature Theme/Topic History of Testing Alpha and Beta Examinations Early Test Development Normalization of Military Tests Computer Age Testing Developments Synopsis Although testing had been used since ancient times, more scientific approaches emerged in the 20 th century in U.S. The Alpha consisted of eight (8) verbally loaded tests while the Beta was a nonverbal test for illiterate recruits. Joint development of test by US Armed Services to implement mental standards established by law. Early perception of tests as too easy led to normalization (number of questions answered correctly vs. percentile score). Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) developed since the late 1990 s have been applied by US Armed Services for more rapid and secured deployment of tests.

3 Evolution of Psychological Testing in the PH Adaptation of Testing in AFP AFPATB Summit Outputs/Tasks AFPSAT Circular Key Provisions AFPCGSC Papers related to the topic Filipino practice, directions and perspectives on testing as it matures with the country s educational system and the profession of psychology including psychological testing. NP screeners initially for first post-war PMA candidates; even PMAEE need revision. AFPATB revision necessary. Highlights from documentation of AFPATB Summit in 2010 served as inputs in completion of new test development. Salient features of new Circular instituting new measures and passing scores; including punishments for violations. AFPATB had been cited as one of the factors in at least five studies related to recruitment and selection in the AFP. Aptitude Testing in the Philippine Military Why Test Applicants for Aptitude Aptitude Testing: Its Relevance in the Selection of Soldiers Worldwide Practice Canada Every applicant to the Canadian Forces must complete the Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (CFAT). This test is very important as it gives the military career counselor an indication of what occupations one may be best suited for. Great Britain For all three of the British Armed Forces, the selection process involves, among others, an aptitude test to identify training potential. Worldwide Practice The Armed Forces of English speaking countries often use psychometric and ability tests to sift candidates and make decisions on appropriate placements. Since there are such a variety of positions and job profiles in the Army, each demanding a certain set of skills, Army aptitude tests can help recruiters make wiser decisions in regards to matching requisites to abilities. Who Uses What USA UK Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (AFVAB) Royal Navy Recruitment Test, (RT), Royal Air Force Aptitude Test, Army Officer Selection Board Tests, Admiralty Interview Board

4 Australia Canada New Zealand South Africa Ireland Australian Defense Force Aptitude Test (ADF) Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (CFAT) New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) They also use psychometric tests for Navy, Army, Air Force and Air Crew. Psychometric Evaluation as part of the military skills development system Irish Army Psychometric Test The process of selection is a key factor in getting the best of the best for the Armed Forces, and that AFPATB (now called AFPSAT) is vital for the selection process. -BGEN ORDOÑEZ, Chief, Office of Defense Reform The Practice of Psychological Testing in the Philippines RA 9258, otherwise known as the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004 RA 10029, otherwise known as the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 R.A Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004 Qualifications of Practitioners Competence (Test Administration, Interpretation and Preparation of Reports) Professionalism (Mastery of Knowledge and Skills) Commitment to maintain the integrity of tests and other assessment techniques Competence in Test Administration The test administrator should use the prescribed and standardized procedures to administer the test. Measuring functioning in this controlled way enables comparison of an examinee s performance with others who have been tested in the same way. Deviations from those conditions should be stated as constraints on the interpretation of the results. Test Security The test should be protected from unauthorized access to preserve copyright restraints and to avoid misuse of the tests (to the extent that the psychologist has control). The contents of tests should be safe-guarded. This means complying with the test administration, test scoring, and test interpretation procedures as prescribed in the test manual (handbook). This also means that administration and handling of all test materials (manuals, keys, answer sheets, reusable booklets, etc.) shall be handled only by qualified users or personnel. Sanctions (Section VI, Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists) any person who has a strong basis for asserting that a member of the PAP, especially a

5 Certified Psychology Specialist of the PAP, has violated any provision of this Code should inform the PAP in writing, and provide supporting evidence for the assertion. This information should be addressed to the PAP President and Board of Directors (ATTN: Scientific and Professional Ethics Committee). Upon receipt of such information, the PAP shall take steps to investigate, make appropriate actions, and place proper sanctions, if necessary.

Psychological testing

What is a psychological test Psychological testing An evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee s behavior in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored