Challenge of computers in psychological assessment.

Abstract

At a 1984 APA Division 5 symposium, James Mitchell argued that "the advent of computer-based test interpretation" . . . "presents the field of psychology with its most serious and consequential challenge of the next decade; how we react to that challenge 44 This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. HARVEYA. SKINNER received his doctorate from the University of Western Ontario in 1975. He is currently a senior scientist at the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario and also holds the rank of professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. One of his major research areas is the application of microcomputers for assessment and intervention in health care settings. He is currently a consulting editor for the Journal of Abnormal Psychology as well as for the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. ANDREW PAKULA, MSc, did his early training in the area of social psychology. He currently runs his own consulting firm specializing in computer applications in health and social services. One of his special interests is in studying attitudes toward the use of computer technology. He is currently working on his PhD dissertation on this topic at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Feasibility of computerized psychological testing with psychiatric outpatients

“…Many clinicians resist the use of computers in the diagnostic process on the basis of arguments that are seldom made explict (Skinner & Pakula, 1986). Although clinicians indicated that they did not ask patients primarily because of the psychological condition of the patients, no significant differences between nonsolicited and solicited patients in the nature or extent of psychopathology were observed.…”

Equivalence of Computerized and Standard Administration of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale

“…Although there are many advantages to such a procedure (Denner, 1977;Reynolds, McNamara, Marion, & Tobin, 1985;Space, 1981), several potential problems also exist. Specifically, concern has been expressed that computerized test administration is not necessarily equivalent to paper-andgencil administration (Hartman, 1986;Hofer & Green, 1985;Matarazzo, 1983;Skinner & Pakula, 1986). These authors caution, therefore, that it may not be appropriate to compare test scores based on an automated assessment to norms that have been established using a paperand-pencil format.…”

Comparability and Reliability of Paper- and Computer-Based Measures of Psychosocial Constructs for Adolescent Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors

“…Previous research has indicated that computeradministered health and psychological surveys generally have good psychometric properties when compared to the same survey administered by paper and pencil (Miller et al, 2002;Skinner & Pakula, 1986). However, Butcher, Perry, and Atlis (2000) reviewed the equivalence of assessment methods in psychiatric screening, personality, neuropsychology, and personnel Psychology Downloaded by [University of New Hampshire] at 06:46 02 November 2014 psychology and found the comparability of computerized and standard administration measures to vary.…”