Psychological Testing on the Internet: New Problems, Old Issues.

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed a rapid expansion of the Internet. This revolutionary communication network has significantly changed the way people conduct business, communicate, and live. In this report we have focused on how the Internet influences the practice of psychology as it relates to testing and assessment. The report includes topics such as test security, how technical issues may compromise test validity and reliability, and hardware issues. Special attention is paid to ethical and legal issues, with particular emphasis on implications for people with disabling conditions and culturally and linguistically diverse persons. The report also covers issues specific to areas of practice such as neuropsychology, industrialorganizational, educational, and personality. Illustrative examples of Internet test use concretize the implications of this new medium of testing and its assessment limitations and potential. The most salient conclusion from this report is that the current psychometric standards, particularly those regarding test reliability and validity, apply even though the way in which the tests are developed and used may be quite different. Still, new methods made possible by emerging technologies will push the boundaries of existing psychometric theory and it is up to psychologists to test and expand the limits of psychometrics to keep pace with these innovations.The Internet provides a tremendous opportunity for testing but with opportunity there is a corresponding need for the ethical and professional use of test results. We encourage psychologists to think creatively about how their research and practice can be improved by Internet testing. Although there are many issues that await resolution, psychologists should look forward to this new medium with excitement and enthusiasm.

The moderating impact of self‐esteem on self‐affirmation effects

“…Previous research suggest that, as well as being more cost and time efficient for both participants and experimenter, internet-based questionnaire studies create samples that are just as diverse and representative as traditional paper and pencil methods of collecting data (Gosling, Vazire, Srivastava & John, 2004). Furthermore, allowing participants to complete the self-report questionnaires online increases the range of participants that are able to take part in the study, which consequently enhances the generalisability of the research findings (Naglieri et al, 2004;Wright, 2005).…”

Avances, proyectos y retos internacionales ligados al uso de tests en Psicología

“…Si bien existen marcadas diferencias entre las áreas de actuación profesional de la Psicología con respecto a las necesidades y usos de los tests, y las características de una de ellas no se pueden generalizar al resto, la administración online se está erigiendo en el siglo XXI como el modo imperante en el área de la Psicología de las organizaciones (Bartram, 2016). Es menester recordar en este punto que los avances tecnológicos nunca pueden suplantar la validez y fiabilidad de las puntuaciones (Naglieri et al, 2004).…”

Opinions of Undergraduates on the Use of Electronic Examination in a Nigerian University

“…For example, online methodologies have been used to assess interests (Tracey, 2010), problem-solving skills (Mayotte, 2010), admission procedures into Nigerian tertiary institutions (Akpata, 2013). The advantages of electronic examination (e-exams) over pencil-and-paper tests have been documented (Naglieri, Drasgow & Schmit, 2004;Akpata, 2013;Cohen et al, 2013). Among the advantages cited include (1) test administrators have greater access to potential test users because of the global reach of the internet; (2) scoring and interpretation of test data tend to be quicker than for the pencil-and-paper tests; (3) costs associated with internet testing tend to be lower than the cost associated with penciland-paper tests; (4) the internet facilitates the testing of otherwise isolated population, as well as people with disabilities for whom getting to a test centre might prove a hardship; (5) the system enables educators and trainers to author, schedule, deliver and access reports via World Wide Web (www) or Local Area Network (LAN); (6) e-exams eliminates biased test administration and scoring, increased computer awareness, reduces the spate of examination security and breaches, thus improving the quality and standard of education in the long run.…”