CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF STANDARDIZED TESTS

Critical Analysis of Standardized Tests



Critical Analysis of Standardized Tests

Outline of the Paper

The paper has been divided in several headings. The first heading of the paper is introduciton. It introduces the paper in a concise way. The beginning line of the paper mention Standardized tests are used to measure cognitive skills, abilities, aptitudes, and achievements in a variety of applications in psychology, education, and other social sciences. The second heading of the paper is - Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Intelligence Test). The subheadings of the second heading are Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The third heading of the paper is Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (Achievement Test) the fourth headin of the paper is Strong Interest Inventory (Career/Vocational Test). The subheading of this is Critical Analysis

Introduction

Standardized tests are used to measure cognitive skills, abilities, aptitudes, and achievements in a variety of applications in psychology, education, and other social sciences. Standardized measures also have been developed to assess personality, attitudes, and other noncognitive characteristics (Anastasi & Urbina, 1996). This paper reviews the following three standardized tests in a concise and comprehensive way.

1- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Intelligence Test)

Tests of human intelligence are designed to provide an estimate of an individual's or a group's ability to perform cognitive tasks. Intelligence tests produce an intelligence quotient (IQ) score and are generally intended to measure several related cognitive functions (Anastasi & Urbina, 1996). Intelligence tests are generally created using current definitions of intelligence, which tend to emphasize the ability to adjust to the environment, the ability to learn, and the ability to think abstractly. Of the measures currently in use, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales are by far the most popular. The Wechsler system includes the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

In 1967, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) was published for use with children between the ages of 4 and 6½ years. It was designed as a comprehensive measure of cognitive ability for preschoolers. It is appropriate for assessment of general intellectual functioning and can be used as a part of an assessment to identify giftedness, delays, or mental retardation. The results are useful in guiding clinical or school-related placements.

In words of Phelps (2005) throughout the last several decades, the WPPSI has been revised twice; the WPPSI-III is the most recent version of this measure. The WPPSI-III includes an extended age range (2.6-7.3 years old), updated norms, new subtests, and composite scores and claims to have a developmentally appropriate structure that is based on contemporary intelligence and cognitive development theory. The WPPSI-III does not require reading or writing. Verbal subtests include oral questions without time limits. Performance subtests are nonverbal (both spatial and fluid reasoning) problems, several of which are timed (Phelps, 2005). Research on the reliability and validity of the scores generated by the WPPSI-III suggest ...