This handbook on human multitasking provides an integrative overview on simultaneous and sequential multitasking and thus combines theorizing on dual task limitations as well as costs related to task switching. In addition to a wide range of empirical findings and their theoretical integration, the editors provide a number of applications of multitasking, like training, interindividual differences and applied research in traffic and health psychology and music expertise. The book is suitable for people interested in multitasking, that is, for researchers and graduate students of cognitive psychology, movement science, sport psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive and neurological rehabilitation, aging sciences, and broader cognitive science.

In A Practical Guide to the Thematic Apperception Test, long-term experts in projective assessment Edward Aronow, Kim Altman Weiss, and Marvin Reznikoff have created a concise and eminently useful introduction to the use and interpretation of the Thematic Apperception Test. A brief history of apperception techniques and the development of the TAT provides background for subsequent discussion of how to administer the test and interpret the results. The authors present data on the stimulus values of the TAT cards and findings form research on apperceptive techniques, issues of cultural diversity, and alternative apperception methods. Sample protocols illustrate the use of the test in clinical context. This broad coverage and pragmatic approach make the book an important resource for students and practitioners seeking to familiarize themselves with this time-tested tool for psychological assessment.

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While confidential informants (CI's) can play a crucial role in police investigations, they also have the potential to cause great harm if they are dishonest. The process by which police agencies qualify a CI to work and the strength of agency policy may be the source of the problem. This Brief examines the integrity problem involving CIs in police operations within the United States, provides an overview of pitfalls and problems related to veracity and informant integrity including the difficulties in detecting when a CI is lying, and compares the provisions of actual published police policy to the model CI policy published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The analysis shows a wide divergence between actual police policy and the national standard promulgated by the IACP. The Brief provides policy recommendations for improving use of CIs that can potentially reduce or eliminate integrity problems that can lead to organizational accidents such as wrongful arrests and convictions, injuries or deaths. Some Courts have issued measures to ensure that information received from CIs is reliable by examining sworn testimony and documents related to their work. However, as this Brief explores, this judicial effort arises only after a police operation has taken place, and the use of force - even deadly force-has already been employed. The author proposes integrity testing beforehand, which would allow police to have a greater understanding of a CI's motivation, ability and veracity when conducting law enforcement operations. In addition, there are aspects of police policy that can enhance CI management such as training, supervision and entrapment that can further guard against integrity problems. Although integrity testing is not flawless, it does interpose an additional step in the CI management process that can help guard against wrongful conviction and perjury that harms the judicial process.

Understanding Statistics in Psychology with SPSS, eighth edition, offers students a trusted, straightforward, and engaging way of learning to do statistical analyses confidently using SPSS. Comprehensive and practical, the text is organised into short accessible chapters, making it the ideal text for undergraduate psychology students needing to get to grips with statistics in class or independently. Clear diagrams and full colour screenshots from SPSS make the text suitable for beginners while the broad coverage of topics ensures that students can continue to use it as they progress to more advanced techniques. Key features * Combines coverage of statistics with full guidance on how to use SPSS to analyse data. * Suitable for use with all versions of SPSS. * Examples from a wide range of real psychological studies illustrate how statistical techniques are used in practice. * Includes clear and detailed guidance on choosing tests, interpreting findings and reporting and writing up research. * Student-focused pedagogical approach including: o Key concept boxes detailing important terms. o Focus on sections exploring complex topics in greater depth. o Explaining statistics sections clarify important statistical concepts. . Dennis Howitt and Duncan Cramer are with Loughborough University.

This book provides students with a concise introduction to test bias from a psychometric point-of-view without statistics. It uses easy to understand graphs to explain complex technical approaches to test bias giving readers a highly sought-after knowledge enabling them to be better consumers of tests. Studies performed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) consistently show that selection is a key competency for Human Resource (HR) professionals. Knowledge of test bias is a key component to effectively and legally performing this highly valued HR function. Unfortunately, test bias is rarely covered in HR classes or is presented in a highly technical manner geared to individuals with strong statistical and mathematical backgrounds. This book, requiring no previous statistical or mathematical knowledge, can be used as a supplemental textbook for any class that deals with selection, staffing, or measurement at the undergraduate or graduate level.

The matrix laboratory interactive computing environment MATLAB has brought creativity to research in diverse disciplines, particularly in designing and programming experiments. More commonly used in mathematics and the sciences, it also lends itself to a variety of applications across the field of psychology. For the novice looking to use it in experimental psychology research, though, becoming familiar with MATLAB can be a daunting task.

"MATLAB for Psychologists"expertly guides readers through the component steps, skills, and operations of the software, with plentiful graphics and examples to match the reader s comfort level. Using an extended illustration, this concise volume explains the program s usefulness at any point in an experiment, without the limits imposed by other types of software. And the authors demonstrate the responsiveness of MATLAB to the individual s research needs, whether the task is programming experiments, creating sensory stimuli, running simulations, or calculating statistics for data analysis.

Key features of the coverage:

Thinking in a matrix way.Handling and plotting data.Guidelines for improved programming, sound, and imaging.Statistical analysis and signal detection theory indexes.The Graphical User Interface.The Psychophysics Toolbox.

"MATLAB for Psychologists"serves a wide audience of advanced undergraduate and graduate level psychology students, professors, and researchers as well as lab technicians involved in programming psychology experiments."

Originally published in 1945, this title was intended mainly for use by teachers wishing to test children from ages 2-8 in order to establish their intelligence. Based on feedback to the author, this revised edition also includes tests for children up to the age of 15. The tests were used to give a teacher some idea of how much could be expected of each child, so that the class, when practicable, could be divided into groups of varying abilities, which could proceed at paces suited to their respective capacities. It was felt that if 'inborn intellectual deficiencies' could be identified at an early age the children could have 'special treatment', or in certain cases be placed in a 'special school', rather than be potentially written off as 'lazy'. Today this can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

This book provides an introduction to test equating, scaling and linking, including those concepts and practical issues that are critical for developers and all other testing professionals. In addition to statistical procedures, successful equating, scaling and linking involves many aspects of testing, including procedures to develop tests, to administer and score tests and to interpret scores earned on tests. Test equating methods are used with many standardized tests in education and psychology to ensure that scores from multiple test forms can be used interchangeably. Test scaling is the process of developing score scales that are used when scores on standardized tests are reported. In test linking, scores from two or more tests are related to one another. Linking has received much recent attention, due largely to investigations of linking similarly named tests from different test publishers or tests constructed for different purposes. In recent years, researchers from the education, psychology and statistics communities have contributed to the rapidly growing statistical and psychometric methodologies used in test equating, scaling and linking. In addition to the literature covered in previous editions, this new edition presents coverage of significant recent research.

In order to assist researchers, advanced graduate students and testing professionals, examples are used frequently and conceptual issues are stressed. New material includes model determination in log-linear smoothing, in-depth presentation of chained linear and equipercentile equating, equating criteria, test scoring and a new section on scores for mixed-format tests. In the third edition, each chapter contains a reference list, rather than having a single reference list at the end of the volume

The themes of the third edition include:

* the purposes of equating, scaling and linking and their practical context

* data collection designs

* statistical methodology

* designing reasonable and useful equating, scaling, and linking studies

* importance of test development and quality control processes to equating

* equating error, and the underlying statistical assumptions for equating

First published in 1940, as the fourth edition of a 1911 original, this book forms part of The Cambridge Psychological Library series. The text is divided into two main sections, with the first part discussing aspects of psychophysics and the second focusing on the area of correlation. Detailed notes and numerous tables are contained throughout. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of psychology and mental measurement.

First thorough treatment of multidimensional item response theory

Description of methods is supported by numerous practical examples

Describes procedures for multidimensional computerized adaptive testing

How can you discover where your true potential lies? Is it possible to balance work and life more effectively? What has been holding you back? The Complete Personality Assessment uses psychometric and analytical techniques to help you answer all of these questions and more. Consisting of a series of personality tests, motivation tests and competency exercises, it takes a structured approach to help you understand how to control underlying emotions that have been standing in your way. It covers everything you need to realise your full potential, including a career development profile, action plans for change, a life balance test, career motivation test and a competency checklist. With insight and analysis into how can you focus these results for career and personal success, The Complete Personality Assessment reveals the truth about who you really are and what has been standing in your way.

How could something as seemingly transcendental as the human mind have arisen from far simpler material beginnings? This book provides a comprehensive overview of evolution from pre-life and early life forms through increasing complexity to advanced cognitive systems using a new framework based on dynamic systems theory.

This is a story about madness. It all starts when journalist Jon Ronson is contacted by a leading neurologist. She and several colleagues have recently received a cryptically puzzling book in the mail, and Jon is challenged to solve the mystery behind it.

The arrival of the computer in educational and psychological testing has led to the current popularity of adaptive testing---a testing format in which the computer uses statistical information about the test items to automatically adapt their selection to a real-time update of the test taker's ability estimate. This book covers such key features of adaptive testing as item selection and ability estimation, adaptive testing with multidimensional abilities, sequencing adaptive test batteries, multistage adaptive testing, item-pool design and maintenance, estimation of item and item-family parameters, item and person fit, as well as adaptive mastery and classification testing. It also shows how these features are used in the daily operations of several large-scale adaptive testing programs.

Psychiatric clinicians should use rating scales and questionnaires often, for they not only facilitate targeted diagnoses and treatment; they also facilitate links to empirical literature and systematize the entire process of management. Clinically oriented and highly practical, the Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental Health is an ideal tool for the busy psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, family physician, or social worker. In this ground-breaking text, leading researchers provide reviews of the most commonly used outcome and screening measures for the major psychiatric diagnoses and treatment scenarios. The full range of psychiatric disorders are covered in brief but thorough chapters, each of which provides a concise review of measurement issues related to the relevant condition, along with recommendations on which dimensions to measure - and when. The Handbook also includes ready-to-photocopy versions of the most popular, valid, and reliable scales and checklists, along with scoring keys and links to websites containing on-line versions. Moreover, the Handbook describes well known, structured, diagnostic interviews and the specialized training requirements for each. It also includes details of popular psychological tests (such as neuropsychological, personality, and projective tests), along with practical guidelines on when to request psychological testing, how to discuss the case with the assessment consultant and how to integrate information from the final testing report into treatment. Focused and immensely useful, the Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental Health is an invaluable resource for all clinicians who care for patients with psychiatric disorders.

Ziel dieser Studie ist die sowohl theoretische als auch empirische Erforschung des Konstrukts Achtsamkeit. Hierzu dient die aus der buddhistischen Theravada-Tradition stammende Vipassana-Meditation. Im theoretischen Teil der Arbeit wird Achtsamkeit einerseits in den Gesamtkontext der Lehre des Buddha eingeordnet; andererseits wird ein Bezug zur westlichen psychologischen Forschung und Psychotherapie hergestellt. Im empirischen Teil wird das Konstrukt Achtsamkeit mittels Faktorenanalyse uberpruft und ein Messinstrument entwickelt. Der "Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit" (FFA) stellt in seiner Endform ein valides, reliables und homogenes Instrument zur Selbstbeurteilung dar.

"Essentials of WNV Assessment" provides practitioners with practical, step-by-step advice for administering, scoring, and interpreting the Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability (WNV), a nonverbal assessment used to assess a wide variety of individuals. Written by Kimberly Brunnert, Jack Naglieri, and Steven Hardy-Braz, the test is especially well suited for those who are not proficient in English, such as young children, recent immigrants, ESL students, and the deaf and hard of hearing. This essential guide provides you with illuminating case reports and valuable advice on its clinical applications.

Item response theory (IRT) has moved beyond the confines of educational measurement into assessment domains such as personality, psychopathology, and patient-reported outcomes. Classic and emerging IRT methods and applications that are revolutionizing psychological measurement, particularly for health assessments used to demonstrate treatment effectiveness, are reviewed in this new volume. World renowned contributors present the latest research and methodologies about these models along with their applications and related challenges. Examples using real data, some from NIH-PROMIS, show how to apply these models in actual research situations. Chapters review fundamental issues of IRT, modern estimation methods, testing assumptions, evaluating fit, item banking, scoring in multidimensional models, and advanced IRT methods. New multidimensional models are provided along with suggestions for deciding among the family of IRT models available. Each chapter provides an introduction, describes state-of-the art research methods, demonstrates an application, and provides a summary. The book addresses the most critical IRT conceptual and statistical issues confronting researchers and advanced students in psychology, education, and medicine today. Although the chapters highlight health outcomes data the issues addressed are relevant to any content domain. The book addresses: IRT models applied to non-educational data especially patient reported outcomes Differences between cognitive and non-cognitive constructs and the challenges these bring to modeling. The application of multidimensional IRT models designed to capture typical performance data. Cutting-edge methods for deriving a single latent dimension from multidimensional data A new model designed for the measurement of constructs that are defined on one end of a continuum such as substance abuse Scoring individuals under different multidimensional IRT models and item banking for patient-reported health outcomes How to evaluate measurement invariance, diagnose problems with response categories, and assess growth and change. Part 1 reviews fundamental topics such as assumption testing, parameter estimation, and the assessment of model and person fit. New, emerging, and classic IRT models including modeling multidimensional data and the use of new IRT models in typical performance measurement contexts are examined in Part 2. Part 3 reviews the major applications of IRT models such as scoring, item banking for patient-reported health outcomes, evaluating measurement invariance, linking scales to a common metric, and measuring growth and change. The book concludes with a look at future IRT applications in health outcomes measurement. The book summarizes the latest advances and critiques foundational topics such a multidimensionality, assessment of fit, handling non-normality, as well as applied topics such as differential item functioning and multidimensional linking. Intended for researchers, advanced students, and practitioners in psychology, education, and medicine interested in applying IRT methods, this book also serves as a text in advanced graduate courses on IRT or measurement. Familiarity with factor analysis, latent variables, IRT, and basic measurement theory is assumed.

The affective spectrum is a grouping of related psychiatric and medical disorders which may accompany bipolar, unipolar, and schizoaffective disorders at statistically higher rates than would normally be expected. These disorders are identified by a common positive response to the same types of pharmacologic treatments. They also aggregate strongly in families and may therefore share common heritable underlying physiologic anomalies. In this book, the authors discuss the epidemiology, signs and symptoms, and prognoses of affective disorders. Topics include psychotic features in bipolar disorder; the risk of suicide behaviours in affective disorders; the social impact of major affective disorders; and gender differences in depressive prevalence in response to psychosocial issues.

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the latest developments in the theory and practice of CAT. It can be used both as a basic reference and a valuable resource on test theory. It covers such topics as item selection and ability estimation, item pool development and maintenance, item calibration and model fit, and testlet-based adaptive testing, as well as the operational aspects of existing large-scale CAT programs.

Author Biography:
Emeritus Professor of Psychometrics at the University of Exeter and has worked extensively as a consultant in test constuction

This Handbook provides a contemporary and research-informed review of the topics essential to clinical psychological assessment and diagnosis. It outlines assessment issues that cross all methods, settings, and disorders, including (but not limited to) psychometric issues, diversity factors, ethical dilemmas, validity of patient presentation, psychological assessment in treatment, and report writing. These themes run throughout the volume as leading researchers summarize the empirical findings and technological advances in their area. With each chapter written by major experts in their respective fields, the text gives interpretive and practical guidance for using psychological measures for assessment and diagnosis.

The practice of primary health care has expanded beyond the "traditional" medical model. Primary-care physicians and allied professionals are called upon more frequently to address parental concerns about develop mental delays, poor school performance, or behavioral problems. As a result, pediatricians, family practitioners, pediatric nurses, social workers, and speecManguage specialists are faced with the issue of developmental and psychological testing. The degree of the clinician's involvement in testing varies from interpretation of reports to performing screening or assessments. In many cases, the primary health care professional assumes the role of case manager. Unfortunately, cooperation between disciplines often has been lim ited because of poor communication, particularly in regard to develop mental and psychological testing, where acronyms, statistics, and jargon abound. Even professionals from mental health disciplines such as child psychiatrists or psychiatric social workers sometimes are overwhelmed. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to provide the clinician with practical information regarding developmental and psychological testing, thereby making the health care professional an "educated consumer. " This text does not simply describe how psychologists perform testing; rather, it provides information to help clinicians understand what the tests con tain, what their strengths and limitations are, and how they can be incorporated into practice."

Dieses Lehrbuch der Psychologischen Diagnostik bietet alles, was Studierende im Bachelor- und Masterstudium der Psychologie fur die Prufung wissen und Anwendende an diagnostischem Handwerkszeug beherrschen mussen. Ein Standardwerk fur die Ausbildung psychologischer Diagnostiker/-innen!

An engaging discussion of the important cognitive characteristics missing from IQ tests Critics of intelligence tests-writers such as Robert Sternberg, Howard Gardner, and Daniel Goleman-have argued in recent years that these tests neglect important qualities such as emotion, empathy, and interpersonal skills. However, such critiques imply that though intelligence tests may miss certain key noncognitive areas, they encompass most of what is important in the cognitive domain. In this book, Keith E. Stanovich challenges this widely held assumption. Stanovich shows that IQ tests (or their proxies, such as the SAT) are radically incomplete as measures of cognitive functioning. They fail to assess traits that most people associate with "good thinking," skills such as judgment and decision making. Such cognitive skills are crucial to real-world behavior, affecting the way we plan, evaluate critical evidence, judge risks and probabilities, and make effective decisions. IQ tests fail to assess these skills of rational thought, even though they are measurable cognitive processes. Rational thought is just as important as intelligence, Stanovich argues, and it should be valued as highly as the abilities currently measured on intelligence tests.