Test Development Proposal Self esteem

Test Development Proposal Overview of Assignment Details:
Throughout the course, students will plan and develop an assessment of their choice, which may (or may not) involve an area of interest for their doctoral dissertation, as well as report on data arising from a small sample. Students are free to measure any psychological construct of their interest, such as some ability, a personality construct or any kind of attitude. Students will select a construct of interest, conduct research on other assessments used to measure the same or similar construct, develop a 12-15 item scale, administer the scale to 3-5 participants, discuss the methods used to administer the test, provide a strengths and weaknesses/limitation section regarding the development of the scale, and discuss ways to increase the reliability and validity of the scale.

Test Development Proposal:
The goal of this final assignment is to integrate Step One, Step Two, and Step Three of your Test Development Proposal, as well as to discuss the methods used, provide a critique of the scale developed, and discuss the limitations involved in the study. The Test Development Proposal should be at least 22pages (but not more than 25 pages), double-spaced, not including your title page, abstract, Appendix, and references page, and should contain the following sections:
A title page,
Abstract
a. Rationale/Problem Statement:(4pages) Explain your construct of interest. Make a case for why this construct is important to you, the field of psychology, or your specialization area. What specifically about your construct are you wanting to assess? Are there different characteristics or behaviors that can be assessed within your construct? For example, if measuring depression as a construct, would you want to measure the severity of depression or the symptoms related to depression? What are all the characteristics of depression? Would you be assessing all of the characteristics?
b. Research Question: Develop a research question addressing what you will be assessing.
c. Literature Review: a minimum of 10 pages on 5-7 scholarly resources, including research studies and articles related to your construct: Provide a thorough review of each article according to the following:
o A through discussion of each article, including the names of the tests used, what the tests are used for, whether the tests are appropriate for this area, and what reviewers say about the strengths and weaknesses of the tests with regard to assessing this construct
o What, in general, appears to be adequately assessed with respect to the construct that you selected?
o What does not appear to be adequately assessed?
o Your literature review should justify your development of an assessment?is there a hole in what is currently being assessed that you can fill with your test? Make a case for why your proposed test would address an area that is not already well assessed.
d. Methodology: Provide detailed information regarding the scale that you developed, who the participants were, and how the scale was administered. Include the following: (5pages)
o Participant Selection: Explain who your participants were (e.g. total number, gender, age, etc.) and how you selected them. Be as specific as possible, as if you were giving directions to someone on how to choose and obtain the participants. Include instructions on how informed consent was provided to the participants. Be sure to indicate whether each participant received and reviewed the consent form provided.
o Measures: Discuss the scale you developed, including what the scale measures, how many items were developed, what type of scale it is (e.g. rating scale, observation, multiple choice, etc.), and how you developed the scale (e.g. did you use examples from pre-existing scales, etc.). Include a copy of the scale in the Appendix.
o Data Collection: Discuss how and where the data was collected (e.g. was the data collected via an internet survey, a group setting, individualized administrations, etc.). Was the data collected in an office setting, house, etc.? Were the participants provided with explicit instructions on how to complete the scale?
e. Discussion: Include the following information, using at least 2-3 scholarly sources to support your discussion:(3pages)
o Strengths and Weaknesses: Provide a thorough critique of your scale. What do you believe are the strengths of your scale? The weaknesses? Regarding test construction, are there any items that appear to be problematic or vague? Are the response choices clear and appropriate? Does the scale appear to measure the construct you have selected? How could you increase the validity of your scale?
o Ethical Considerations: Could your participants be harmed by your scale, either in taking it or after it is finished? Address this and other possibly relevant questions of ethics.
o Limitations: No research covers everything. What are the obvious limitations to this study/proposal?
f. References Page: The references page should be formatted according to APA style.
g. Appendix of your test development scale.

(Week 1). Test Development Proposal: Step One

Throughout the course, students will plan and develop an assessment of their choice, which may (or may not) involve an area of interest for their doctoral dissertation, as well as report on data arising from a small sample. Students are free to measure any psychological construct of their interest, such as some ability, a personality construct or any kind of attitude. Students will select a construct of interest, conduct research on other assessments used to measure the same or similar construct, develop a 12-15 item scale, administer the scale to 3-5 participants, discuss the methods used to administer the test, provide a strengths and weaknesses/limitation section regarding the development of the scale, and discuss ways to increase the reliability and validity of the scale.
This assignment is the first step toward completing your Test Development Proposal. Select a construct of interest (e.g. depression, anxiety, self-esteem, marital satisfaction, social persuasion, job satisfaction, etc.) and using the test publisher websites provided in the readings (or through other sources such as articles, test reviews, etc.), compile a list of currently available standardized tests that purports to measure the construct (between 5 and 7 tests is adequate). Provide a brief summary of your construct of interest and the tests available.
Concerning your construct of interest: self-esteem
Test Development Proposal:
The goal of this final assignment is to integrate Step One, Step Two, and Step Three of your Test Development Proposal, as well as to discuss the methods used, provide a critique of the scale developed, and discuss the limitations involved in the study. The Test Development Proposal should be at least 20 pages (but not more than 25 pages), double-spaced, not including your title page, abstract, Appendix, and references page, and should contain the following sections: (This section should be 4 pages with 5 scholarly references not older than 10 years old)
A title page, Abstract
Rationale/Problem Statement: Explain your construct of interest. Make a case for why this construct is important to you, the field of psychology, or your specialization area. What specifically about your construct are you wanting to assess? Are there different characteristics or behaviors that can be assessed within your construct? For example, if measuring depression as a construct, would you want to measure the severity of depression or the symptoms related to depression? What are all the characteristics of depression? Would you be assessing all of the characteristics?
a. Research Question: Develop a research question addressing what you will be assessing.
Concerning your construct of interest: self-esteem
Explain your construct of interest. Make a case for why this construct is important to you, the field of psychology, or your specialization area.
What specifically about your construct are you wanting to assess? Are there different characteristics or behaviors that can be assessed within your construct? For example, if measuring depression as a construct, would you want to measure the severity of depression or the symptoms related to depression? What are all the characteristics of depression? Would you be assessing all of the characteristics?
Develop a research question addressing what you will be assessing.
Concerning available tests:
What is the validity and reliability of each test?
What types of scores and scales are provided?
What information does the test publisher (or other source) provide about each of the test?s strengths and weaknesses/limitations?
Test Development Proposal: Step Two
Throughout the course, students will also plan and develop an assessment of their choice, which may (or may not) involve an area of interest for their doctoral dissertation, as well as report on data arising from a small sample. Students are free to measure any psychological construct of their interest, such as some ability, a personality construct or any kind of attitude. Students will select a construct of interest, conduct research on other assessments used to measure the same or similar construct, develop a 12-15 item scale, administer the scale to 3-5 participants, discuss the methods used to administer the test, provide a strengths and weaknesses/limitation section regarding the development of the scale, and discuss ways to increase the reliability and validity of the scale.
This assignment is the second step toward completing your Final Test Development Proposal.
Drawing on your construct of interest and the tests you found in Step One, develop a 10 page literature review (not including the title page, abstract, and references page) on your construct of interest and the tests used to assess it, using between 7 scholarly resources, including mostly research studies and articles related to your construct. Information should be drawn from appropriate sources, such as professional journals and dissertations. Information gathered from sources must be appropriately cited, following APA guidelines. (10pages)

TIP: Writing a literature review requires not only summarizing individual studies/articles, but also involves an examination or evaluation of the studies in relation to the topic or research area. Some common purposes of literature reviews include: identifying and outlining relevant and existing knowledge on a topic; identifying gaps in research; evaluating and synthesizing information available on a research topic; justifying a rationale for your own research; and evaluating current research. With this in mind, please be sure to include the following in your review:
o A thorough discussion of each article you review for your construct, including the names of the test used, what the tests are used for, whether the tests are appropriate for this area, and what reviewers say about the strengths and weaknesses of it with regard to assessing this construct
o What, in general, appears to be adequately assessed with respect to the construct that you selected?
o What does not appear to be adequately assessed?
o Your literature review should justify your development of an assessment?is there a hole in what is currently being assessed that you can fill with your test? Make a case for why your proposed test would address an area that is not already well assessed.

Test Development Proposal: Step Three
Throughout the course, students will also plan and develop an assessment of their choice, which may (or may not) involve an area of interest for their doctoral dissertation, as well as report on data arising from a small sample. Students are free to measure any psychological construct of their interest, such as some ability, a personality construct or any kind of attitude. Students will select a construct of interest, conduct research on other assessments used to measure the same or similar construct, develop a 12-15 item scale, administer the scale to 3-5 participants, discuss the methods used to administer the test, provide a strengths and weaknesses/limitation section regarding the development of the scale, and discuss ways to increase the reliability and validity of the scale.
Develop a 12-15 item psychological test on the construct of interest you selected during Step One and Step Two. Drawing on your construct of interest and the tests you found in Step One, and Step Two develop a 5 page section for (Methodology, participant selection, measures, data collection).(5pages)
(Concerning your construct of interest: self-esteem)
Construct the items and response choices for the test (can either be in multiple choice, true/false, rating scale, and/or open ended question format). Include an introduction to the test (e.g. what the test is proposing to measure and why) and explicit instructions on how the test should be completed by the participants.
Use the Diem (2002), Derrington (2009), and Siebert (2002) websites to assist in your item and test construction. Information gathered from sources must be appropriately cited on the References page, following APA guidelines. Your test submission should include a title page and a References page (if sources were used).
a. Methodology: Provide detailed information regarding the scale that you developed, who the participants were, and how the scale was administered. Include the following:
o Participant Selection: Explain who your participants were (e.g. total number, gender, age, etc.) and how you selected them. Be as specific as possible, as if you were giving directions to someone on how to choose and obtain the participants. Include instructions on how informed consent was provided to the participants. Be sure to indicate whether each participant received and reviewed the consent form provided.
o Measures: Discuss the scale you developed, including what the scale measures, how many items were developed, what type of scale it is (e.g. rating scale, observation, multiple choice, etc.), and how you developed the scale (e.g. did you use examples from pre-existing scales, etc.). Include a copy of the scale in the Appendix.
o Data Collection: Discuss how and where the data was collected (e.g. was the data collected via an internet survey, a group setting, individualized administrations, etc.). Was the data collected in an office setting, house, etc.? Were the participants provided with explicit instructions on how to complete the scale?
Although not required for this Week?s written assignment, you will need to administer your test to 3-5 people (e.g., family members, friends, etc.) before the beginning of Week 6. Please ensure that each participant reviews the consent form (which should include the instructor?s information and student?s name) provided in the Assignment folder for this week. See Participant Consent Form.doc or find it in Doc Sharing.
Since this proposal is completely anonymous, you will not be required to return the consent forms, but will receive credit during Week 6 for acknowledging that you presented this to your participants.

Test Development Proposal: Step Four
Discussion: Include the following information, This section should be 3 pages total for the Discussion section with, using at least 5 scholarly sources not more than 10 years old to support your discussion:(3 pages)
Discussion section:
Strengths and Weaknesses: Provide a thorough critique of your scale. What do you believe are the strengths of your scale? The weaknesses? Regarding test construction, are there any items that appear to be problematic or vague? Are the response choices clear and appropriate? Does the scale appear to measure the construct you have selected? How could you increase the validity of your scale?
Ethical Considerations: Could your participants be harmed by your scale, either in taking it or after it is finished? Address this and other possibly relevant questions of ethics.
Limitations: No research covers everything. What are the obvious limitations to this study/proposal?
References Page: The references page should be formatted according to APA style.
Appendix of your test development scale.
Recommended Readings
1. Textbooks:
Cohen, R.J. and Swerdlik, M.L. (2010). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurements (7th ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill.
Miller, L. A., McIntire, S. A., & Lovler, R. L. (2011). Foundations of psychological testing: A practical approach (3rd Ed.). Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA.
Murphy, K. R., & Davidshofer, C. O. (2005). Psychological testing: Principles and applications (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Salkind, N.J. (2006). Tests & measurement for people who (think they) hate tests & measurement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Cengage.
2. Websites:
Arkkelin, D. (n. d.). Chapter 6.3: The frequencies procedure ? Interpreting the output. Available: http://wwwstage.valpo.edu/other/dabook/ch6/c6-3.htm
Johnston, I. (2000). I?ll give you a definite maybe: An introductory handbook on probability, statistics and excel. Section 4: Correlation. Available: http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/maybe/maybe4.htm
Lane, D. M. (2007). HyperStat online statistics textbook. Available: http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/
Trochim, W. M. K. (2006). Research methods: Knowledge base. Available: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/
UCLA. (2010). Probability and statistics ebook. Available: http://wiki.stat.ucla.edu/socr/index.php/Probability_and_statistics_EBook