STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AT DOUGLAS COLLEGE*

 

For all standardized tests, the quality of administration of those tests has
‘major effects on the reaction of the persons tested. Administration requires
control so that good testing practice will always apply. Therefore, it is
recommended that the administration of standardized tests should be done only
through the centralized Student Services Division and its resources, except in
specific instances when some other arrangement is agreed upon to insure that
good testing practices will be followed.

A test user, for the purposes of these standards, is one who chooses tests,
interprets scores, or makes decisions based on test scores. He/she is not
necessarily the person who administers the test following standard instructions
or who does routine scoring.

1. A test user should have a general knowledge of measurement principles and
the limitations of test interpretations, particularly when the test user
has the responsibility for decisions about individuals or policies that
are based on test results.

2. A test user should know his/her own qualifications and how well they match
the qualifications required for the uses of specific tests. A test user
may refer to test levels A, B and C of the American Psychological Association.

3. Test users within the college should make every effort to insure that all
those in the college who are‘charged with responsibilities related to test
use and interpretation (e.g. test administrators) have received training
appropriate to those responsibilities.

4, A test user should seek to avoid bias in test selection, administration,
and interpretation; he/she should try to avoid even the appearance of dis-
criminatory practice.

5. A test user is expected to follow carefully the standardized procedures
described in the manual for administering a test and to establish conditions
consistent with the principle of standardization, that enable each examinee
to do his best.

6. College test users should establish procedures for periodic internal review
of specific tests and test use.

7. The test user shares with the test developer or distributor a responsibility
for maintaining test security.

8. The choice of tests, development of tests, test batteries, or other assess-
ment procedures should be based on clearly formulated written goals and
hypotheses. These clearly formulated goals may provide evaluative criteria
and assist in communicating that evaluation to other qualified persons.

9. If specific cutting scores are to be used as a basis for decision, a test

user should have a rationale, justification, or explanation of the cutting
scores adopted.

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