Course program
Week #1: September 25, 26, 27, 2024
Measuring in psychology and the various phases of testing (BN, pp. 15-34 + MI);
Definition and classification of psychological tests, ethical aspects (MI, PPR, pp. 19-45);
Week #2: October 2, 3, 4, 2024
Measuring through tests (MI, PPR, pp. 47-60);
The transition from concept to construct (MI);
The development and construction of psychological test items (MI, PPR, pp. 47-60);
Week #3: October 9, 10, 11, 2024
Cognitive theories and factor theories of intelligence (MI);
The Wechsler scales: WPPSI-III, WISC-IV, WAIS-IV (PPR, pp. 91-116);
Week #4: October 16, 17, 18, 2024
Adaptive and maladaptive personality traits (MI);
Measuring personality traits (PPR, pp. 145-160 + MI);
The BFQ-2 test (PPR, pp. 195-211) and the MMPI-2 test (PPR, pp. 161-192 + MI);
Week #5: October 23, 24, 25, 2024
Classical Test Theory (CTT): theoretical model (BN, pp. 35-47);
Conceptualizations and empirical estimates of reliability (BN, pp. 48-60; pp. 69-73);
Standard error of measurement (SEM) and item analysis (BN, pp. 61-69);
Week #6: October 30, 31, 2024
Item dimensionality: exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (BN, pp. 181-193, 195-196);
Introduction to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (MI);
Exercises on reliability, EFA, and CFA using jamovi and Mplus software (MI);
Week #7: November 6, 7, 8, 2024
Factorial invariance and its importance for assessment processes (MI);
Exercises on factorial invariance with Mplus (MI);
Week #8: November 13, 14, 15, 2024
Elements of generalizability theory: G and D studies (MI);
Exercises on generalizability theory with jamovi (MI);
Week #9: November 20, 21, 22, 2024
The construction of norms for a psychological test: exercises with jamovi (MI);
Latent profile analysis (MI);
Week #10: November 27, 28, 29, 2024
Item Response Theory (IRT): theoretical model (BN, pp. 101-117, 127-140);
IRT in psychometric practice (BN, pp. 140-168, pp. 171-180);
Exercises on IRT with Mplus software (MI);
Week #11: December 4, 5, 6, 2024
The perspective of network psychometrics (MI);
Constructing a test through the philosophy of network psychometrics (MI);
Exercises on network analysis using JASP software (MI);
Week #12: December 11, 12, 13, 2024
The concept and study of validity and multiple regression (BN, pp. 15-34 + MI);
Applications on multiple regression with jamovi software (MI);
Prerequisites
For the study of the subject, it is essential to have prior knowledge of the elementary notions of descriptive and inferential statistics proper to the psychometric courses provided for in the previous years of the course of study. The good knowledge of the English language facilitates the comprehension of the technical vocabulary of the discipline and the comprehension of texts and of the integrative didactic materials.
Books
Barbaranelli C., & Natali E. (2005). I test psicologici: Teorie e modelli psicometrici. Rome: Carocci Editore (BN);
The following sections are not included in the exam:
2.12.4 – Test equating
3.2.2 – Models for polytomous data
3.9.2 – Equating procedures in IRT
4.2 – Factor analysis of categorical variables
5.1 – Item analysis and test construction: strategic and procedural guidelines
6.1.6 – Nomological validity and nomological networks
6.2.2 – Structural equation models
Pages 117, 118, and 119
Picone L., Pezzuti L., & Ribaudo F. (2017). Teorie e tecniche dei test. Rome: Carocci Editore (PPR);
The following sections are not included in the exam:
Chapter 5 (Other measures of intelligence)
Chapter 9 (Graphical tests)
Chapter 10 (Thematic projective tests: TAT)
Chapter 11 (Other thematic projective tests)
Chapter 12 (Rorschach test and other structural projective tests)
Supplementary teaching materials (slides, exercises, handouts, and additional materials on tests) are progressively uploaded on the course’s Moodle platform https://elearning.uniroma1.it/course/view.php?id=18381 (MI).
Teaching mode
The teaching will involve the exposition of the course content. In addition, the teachers will propose several application examples related to Classical Test Theory, Item Response Theory, and multivariate data analysis, which will be carried out using the program Mplus (https://www.statmodel.com/) and the open-source software jamovi (freely downloadable for all operating systems at the web address https://www.jamovi.org/). Part of the lectures is devoted to exercises on simulated administration, scoring, and interpretation of some psychological tests.
Frequency
Attendance to class is warmly recommended, especially for the parts relating to computer applications
Exam mode
The exam is written and conducted in-person according to the exam schedule. There are no midterm exams scheduled. The exam includes multiple questions, open-ended questions, and exercises.
Bibliography
➢ Chiorri, C. (2023). Teoria e tecnica psicometrica. Costruire un test psicologico (2a edizione). Milano: McGraw-Hill Education;
➢ Cooper, C. (2018). Psychological testing: Theory and practice. London, UK: Routledge;
➢ Hogan, T. P. (2013). Psychological Testing: A Practical Introduction (3a edizione). New York, US: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Lesson mode
The teaching will involve the exposition of the course content. In addition, the teachers will propose several application examples related to Classical Test Theory, Item Response Theory, and multivariate data analysis, which will be carried out using the program Mplus (https://www.statmodel.com/) and the open-source software jamovi (freely downloadable for all operating systems at the web address https://www.jamovi.org/) and JASP(https://jasp-stats.org/).. Part of the lectures is devoted to exercises on simulated administration, scoring, and interpretation of some psychological tests.
