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Improving Construct Validity With Cognitive Psychology Principles
Author(s) -
Embretson Susan,
Gorin Joanna
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of educational measurement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.917
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-3984
pISSN - 0022-0655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3984.2001.tb01131.x
Subject(s) - cognition , construct (python library) , psychology , construct validity , cognitive psychology , test (biology) , psychological research , cognitive science , applied psychology , social psychology , psychometrics , computer science , developmental psychology , neuroscience , paleontology , biology , programming language
Cognitive psychology principles have been heralded as possibly central to construct validity. In this paper, testing practices are examined in three stages: (a) the past, in which the traditional testing research paradigm left little role for cognitive psychology principles, (b) the present, in which testing research is enhanced by cognitive psychology principles, and (c) the future, for which we predict that cognitive psychology's potential will be fully realized through item design. An extended example of item design by cognitive theory is given to illustrate the principles. A spatial ability test that consists of an object assembly task highlights how cognitive design principles can lead to item generation.