Solid State Psychology: The Impact of Computerized Assessment on the Science and Practice of Psychology.
Samuel E. Krug · 1989
Computer-assisted testing is not without its problems and pitfalls, but it holds a great deal of promise as well. Computer administration of tests provides more control over the testing process than was ever possible with paper-and-pencil testing. At the same time it ^' -rs the possibility of being able to monitcr and record aspect wr the testing process, such as response latency and response shifting, that may prove to be important predictive factors in their own right. Computer scoriAg of tests has made it possible to obtain accurate scores. It has been estimated that errors involving a differ nce of one or more points in the final score are made in 10 percent of cases involving hand scoring of objective tests. These and sinilar errors of measurement may have more impact on the reliability of scores obtained in practice than some of the better analyzed sources described in measurement theory. In the final analysis, computer ilt^rpretations of test scores may offer the greatest potential for advancing psychological measurement. As the volume of research data relevant to a particular test increases, the task of using it effectively in interpretation becomes increasingly frustrating for the unassisted test user. Perhaps even more importantly, computerized reports ,,oduce consistent, predictable outputs that can be analyzed and improved if the appropriate models and techniques are developed foe doing so and they are treated scientifically and not as scientific curiosities. (ABL) *************'********************************************************* * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. ***********************************************************************