Industrial Psychological
Assessment
IOP4861
Assignment 2
613733
01/09/2020
,Section 1: Short questions
1. Explain why it is important to use norms when interpreting psychological
assessment results. Furthermore, discuss the four different norm-based
approaches for the interpretation of assessment results.
Norms are used as a standard to measure a person’s performance. The norm is
identified by using a group of people who is applicable to the test. The group is
called the norm group. After the group has been tested, a norm is calculated from
their results to identify the standard to which people in the field should meet. By
using norms when interpreting psychological assessment results, it is possible to
identify if a person is achieving above normal, average, or below normal scores.
After the assessment it is then possible to assist the person where needed to
achieve the norm.
There are 4 different norm-based approaches for the interpretation of assessment
results:
1. Interpretations based on central tendency
Here it is asked where the persons score falls in relation to the mean, if it is
above or below it.
There are a few different ways to achieve these interpretations:
• Z-score:
How many standard deviations above or below the mean is the score?
• Deviation Score:
Here the z-score is converted to a mean of 100 and standard deviation of
15 is used.
• McCall’s T-score:
Here tie z-score is converted to a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of
10 is used.
2. Interpretation based on the number of people with lower scores
With this method one will look how far from the top or bottom of the group the
person scored. Is the person in the top 10 or more in the bottom of the group?
There is four ways to do this:
2|Page
, • Percentiles:
This interpretation looks at the percentage of the group that scores bellow
a particular score.
• Quartiles:
The scores of the group is ranked from lowest to highest and then divided
into four equal groups.
• Stanines:
The distribution of scores is divided into nine roughly equivalent
categories.
• Stens:
The distribution of scores is divided into ten roughly equivalent categories.
3. Age equivalent or scores
Some scores have a relation to a person’s age. Scores are sometimes linked to
the age for which the scores are most appropriate.
4. Grade equivalent or scores
On an educational level scores are interpreted in terms of grade equivalents.
2. Critically discuss five advantages and five disadvantages of computer-
based assessment.
Computer-based assessment has become a part of the daily life in psychological
assessment as technology has become more advanced. It has shown to be very
helpful in completing assessments, but it also has its disadvantages.
Five advantages:
• It is more cost and time efficient. It saves the costs on paper as well as
centres that is needed for paper-based assessments. It also saves time if
the people who needs to take part can only log on a computer and they
are ready for the test, instead of having to get seated and wait for papers
to be handed out etc.
3|Page
Assessment
IOP4861
Assignment 2
613733
01/09/2020
,Section 1: Short questions
1. Explain why it is important to use norms when interpreting psychological
assessment results. Furthermore, discuss the four different norm-based
approaches for the interpretation of assessment results.
Norms are used as a standard to measure a person’s performance. The norm is
identified by using a group of people who is applicable to the test. The group is
called the norm group. After the group has been tested, a norm is calculated from
their results to identify the standard to which people in the field should meet. By
using norms when interpreting psychological assessment results, it is possible to
identify if a person is achieving above normal, average, or below normal scores.
After the assessment it is then possible to assist the person where needed to
achieve the norm.
There are 4 different norm-based approaches for the interpretation of assessment
results:
1. Interpretations based on central tendency
Here it is asked where the persons score falls in relation to the mean, if it is
above or below it.
There are a few different ways to achieve these interpretations:
• Z-score:
How many standard deviations above or below the mean is the score?
• Deviation Score:
Here the z-score is converted to a mean of 100 and standard deviation of
15 is used.
• McCall’s T-score:
Here tie z-score is converted to a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of
10 is used.
2. Interpretation based on the number of people with lower scores
With this method one will look how far from the top or bottom of the group the
person scored. Is the person in the top 10 or more in the bottom of the group?
There is four ways to do this:
2|Page
, • Percentiles:
This interpretation looks at the percentage of the group that scores bellow
a particular score.
• Quartiles:
The scores of the group is ranked from lowest to highest and then divided
into four equal groups.
• Stanines:
The distribution of scores is divided into nine roughly equivalent
categories.
• Stens:
The distribution of scores is divided into ten roughly equivalent categories.
3. Age equivalent or scores
Some scores have a relation to a person’s age. Scores are sometimes linked to
the age for which the scores are most appropriate.
4. Grade equivalent or scores
On an educational level scores are interpreted in terms of grade equivalents.
2. Critically discuss five advantages and five disadvantages of computer-
based assessment.
Computer-based assessment has become a part of the daily life in psychological
assessment as technology has become more advanced. It has shown to be very
helpful in completing assessments, but it also has its disadvantages.
Five advantages:
• It is more cost and time efficient. It saves the costs on paper as well as
centres that is needed for paper-based assessments. It also saves time if
the people who needs to take part can only log on a computer and they
are ready for the test, instead of having to get seated and wait for papers
to be handed out etc.
3|Page
