Skip to main content

How to Develop a Psychological Test: A Practical Approach

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mastering Modern Psychological Testing

Abstract

Developing a good psychological test is not as easy as it may first appear. It involves a multistage process that typically takes a significant amount of time, research, patience, and perhaps most importantly, participants who are willing to take the test! This chapter provides an overview of the test development process, dividing it into four stages: test conceptualization, specification of its structure and format, planning standardization and psychometric studies, and plan implementation.

We have oft heard it said there are 3 things you should not watch being made: Laws, sausage, and psychological tests!

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals: Handbook. Cognitive domain. White Plains, NY: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bush, S., Ruff, R., Troster, A., Barth, J., Koffler, S., Pliskin, N., … Silver, C. (2005). Symptom validity assessment: Practice issues and medical necessity. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 20, 419–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). Behavior assessment system for children: Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2004). Behavior assessment system for children (2nd ed.). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2015). Behavior assessment system for children (3rd ed.). Bloomington, MN: NCS Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Voress, J. (2007). Test of memory and learning-second edition (TOMAL-2). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, G. J. (2003). A practical model for test development. In C. R. Reynolds & R. W. Kamphaus (Eds.), Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children: Vol. 1. Intelligence, aptitude, and achievement (2nd ed., pp. 24–57). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, G. P., Nuñez, A., Ahmed, A. O., Brachard, K., Granholm, E., Kirkpatrick, B., … Allen, D. N. (2018). Latent structure of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(12), 1271–1279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Recommended Reading

  • Bush, S., Ruff, R., Troster, A., Barth, J., Koffler, S., Pliskin, N., … Silver, C. (2005). Symptom validity assessment: Practice issues and medical necessity. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 20, 419–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (1983). Kaufman assessment battery for children: Examiner manual and technical manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2003). Reynolds intellectual assessment scales and Reynolds intellectual screening test: Professional manual. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, G. J. (2003). A practical model for test development. In C. R. Reynolds & R. W. Kamphaus (Eds.), Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children, Vol. 1: Intelligence, aptitude, and achievement (2nd ed., pp. 24–57). New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

18.1 Electronic Supplementary Material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Reynolds, C.R., Altmann, R.A., Allen, D.N. (2021). How to Develop a Psychological Test: A Practical Approach. In: Mastering Modern Psychological Testing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59455-8_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics