Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper Essay The field of psychology is one of those broad and exciting fields. Though various psychologists tend to work in a diverse array of fields one of the common aspects that they all share is that they all study behavior and associate its results to some specific measurements. Psychological tests are some of the common tests that are carried out in this field of psychology. The tests are carried and analyzed then the results are interpreted in such a way so as to attain different attributes for various individuals. One of the interesting things is that these results may vary in accordance with various factors which may either have a positive or negative impact on the tests. These tests have found their way into a number of applications with individuals being tested to determine whether they are up to task to ascertain their levels of performance in a diverse array of fields. The term test in psychology testing is one that has to be defined first in order to determine the workability of the process and the results that should be expected. According to a renowned psychologist Anatasi (1997) the term test as used in the field of psychology, is defined as â€Å"an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior†. This very definition tends to bring three core elements of psychology testing. The term objective tends to generally give the idea on how the test score is interpreted meaning that it is as a result of an objective criterion instead of subjective judgment by the examiner. The term standardized in the definition means that the results will be uniform independent of any qualified examiner. The term sample in the definition shows us that the test is drawn from previous collected inferences and results. Most of the psychological tests are categorized into a variety of groups depending on the results and the individuals involved. These tests may be administered to an individual that is one person at a time and they are known as â€Å"individual tests† as compared to â€Å"group tests† which are administered to more that an individual. See more: how to start an essay From time in memorial various psychologists have used three main criteria’s to distinguish various abilities that individuals possess. The tests may differ in that they may be grouped as either â€Å"ability or personality tests†. A personality test is described as one that is related â€Å"to the overt and covert dispositions of the individual† (Kaplan and Saccuzzo, 2008). This means that these types of tests will generally measure an individual’s typical behavior. These types of tests will then be divided into two distinctive groups of either structured or objective personality tests. The structured type of tests require the individual to choose from a variety of two options such as â€Å"true† and â€Å"false† or â€Å"yes† and â€Å"no†. Objective personality tests on the other hand are more complicated in that an individual is required to provide spontaneous responses. This type of testing generally assumes that the individual will tend to produce unique characteristics. The main concept behind these tests is actually to evaluate differences or variations that various individuals may exhibit. One of the assumptions that these tests tend to be pegged upon is that the resultants are actually the real differences among individuals. With this it can then be said that the most important aspect of testing is to generally differentiate among those individuals taking the tests (Domino and Domino, 2006). The three, aptitude, achievement and intelligence are used to determine the types of tests to be performed so as to determine their degree in an individual. Achievement in contrast to aptitude refers to previous learning while aptitude refers to the potential that an individual inhibits to do more. Intelligence on the other hand is distinguished from both achievement and aptitude in the sense that it refers to the general potential an individual has to â€Å"solve problems, adapt to environments and profit from experience†. The three however are believed to be interrelated in one way or another and a term that has been coined up to describe this situation is the term â€Å"human ability† (Kaufman and Kaufman, 2004). Two of these tests; achievement and aptitude tests have found their way in educational and most of the times employment institutions where they are used to deduce an individual’s ability. These tests are used to determine how much an individual knows about a certain aspects such as calculations, spellings or masterly of certain material objects such as practices and the like. Intelligence tests on the other hand try to measure an individual’s ability to basically understand the world and its environment analyze its functionality and use the acquired knowledge to improve the quality of the individual’s life. A renowned psychologist by the name Alfred Whitehead (1929) describes intelligence as having the potential to â€Å"enables the individual to profit by error without being slaughtered by it†. However the measurement of this ability has come under close scrutiny with critics arguing that most tests do not provide clear cut results or fail out rightly. The field of psychological testing is mainly governed by two major principles that is; validity and reliability. The term validity as it used in this field means that the tests and results are useful in whatever the reason they are carried on. On more technical terms the term can be said to represent the degree in which â€Å"certain inferences or interpretations† can be considered to be appropriate (Kaplan and Saccuzzo, 2008). Reliability on the other hand refers to the degree in which the tests and results obtained are free from errors. It refers to the accuracy, consistency, dependability of the test results. Although the concept of psychological testing is becoming an important phenomenon in today’s modern world, controversies have in some cases dogged the otherwise noble idea. One of the aspects that come into play is that most of the tests are usually administered by counselors and if the training is not adequate then the validity and reliability of the tests may be somehow substandard. The issue of ethics also comes into play and when monetary aspects are considered then the issue of ethics may just be thrown out of the window. This is especially true considering the number of individuals especially in the internet who purport to be offering an array of tests which their authenticity does not weigh the balance. Some social and theoretical issues have arisen with the fragile issue of race finding its path to those who vehemently criticize this process. However since nothing will ever be perfect, a compromise is often reached whereby the positives of this process outweigh the disadvantages and thus the process is preferred and applied in many institutions.

Mother Night, Welcome to the Monkey House, and Harrison Bergeron :: Mother Night Essays

Government vs. Individual in Mother Night, Welcome to the Monkey House, and Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has made important contributions to the development of the 20th century American novel. His influences are felt in modern social satire, as well as nontraditional science fiction. One theme that is recurrent in his work is the common portrayal of government forces as destructive to individuals; to force characters to do evil in the name of good. Kurt Vonegut, Jr. was born November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of an architect. He attended Cornell University in 1940, studying biochemistry, but soon quit because his grades were poor. He worked as a columnist for the Cornell Daily Sun until joining the army in 1942. He was captured by the Germans in 1944 and forced to work in a factory, where he lived through the fire bombing of Dresden. This, and the suicide of his mother in 1944, were the two most influential events in his life. After the war he worked for the Chicago News Bureau and studied anthropology. He has written many novels and one short story collection. His most acclaimed work, Slaughterhouse-Five, is a twisted account of the Dresden bombing. He is still alive and writing. His most recent published work, Timequake, appeared in the December 1997 Playboy Magazine. Mother Night was Vonnegut's third novel and one his few works that contains no elements of science fiction. Though this novel is not one of his most critically acclaimed, it serves as a prime example of Vonnegut's skill as a black humorist and weaver of human absurdity. Mother Night is the story of Howard W. Campbell, Jr, Nazi radio propagandist and American spy. The novel begins and ends in the same spot; a "new jail in old Jerusalem" (Mother Night p. Mother Night, Welcome to the Monkey House, and Harrison Bergeron :: Mother Night Essays Government vs. Individual in Mother Night, Welcome to the Monkey House, and Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has made important contributions to the development of the 20th century American novel. His influences are felt in modern social satire, as well as nontraditional science fiction. One theme that is recurrent in his work is the common portrayal of government forces as destructive to individuals; to force characters to do evil in the name of good. Kurt Vonegut, Jr. was born November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of an architect. He attended Cornell University in 1940, studying biochemistry, but soon quit because his grades were poor. He worked as a columnist for the Cornell Daily Sun until joining the army in 1942. He was captured by the Germans in 1944 and forced to work in a factory, where he lived through the fire bombing of Dresden. This, and the suicide of his mother in 1944, were the two most influential events in his life. After the war he worked for the Chicago News Bureau and studied anthropology. He has written many novels and one short story collection. His most acclaimed work, Slaughterhouse-Five, is a twisted account of the Dresden bombing. He is still alive and writing. His most recent published work, Timequake, appeared in the December 1997 Playboy Magazine. Mother Night was Vonnegut's third novel and one his few works that contains no elements of science fiction. Though this novel is not one of his most critically acclaimed, it serves as a prime example of Vonnegut's skill as a black humorist and weaver of human absurdity. Mother Night is the story of Howard W. Campbell, Jr, Nazi radio propagandist and American spy. The novel begins and ends in the same spot; a "new jail in old Jerusalem" (Mother Night p.

Factory Act Essay

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, ‘adolescent’ means a person who has completed sixteen years but has not completed eighteen years of age,’adult’ means a person who has completed eighteen years of age, ‘child’ means a person who has not completed sixteen years of age,’day’ means a period of twenty-four hours beginning at mid-night, ‘explosive substance’ includes any materials for making any explosive substance; ‘factory’ means any premises including the precincts thereof whereon ten or more workers are working or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with or without the aid of power, but does not include a mine subject to the operation of the Mines Act. Power to apply the provisions of this Act to certain places. – (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act shall apply to any place wherein a manufacturing process is being carried on or is ordinarily carried on whether with or without the use of power whenever five or more workers are working therein or have worked therein on any day of the twelve months immediately preceding. (2) A notification under sub-section (1) may be made in respect of any one such place or in respect of any class of such places or generally in respect of all such places. 3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (f) of Section 2, a place to which all or any of the provisions of this Act are, for the time being, applicable in pursuance of a declaration under sub-section (l), shall, to the extent to which such provisions are so made applicable but not otherwise, be deemed to be a factory. Section 4. Power to declare departm ents to be separate factories. The Government may, by order in writing, direct that the different departments or branches of a specified factory be treated as separate factories for all or any of the purposes of this Act. Section 5. Power to exempt. – The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any factory or any class or description of factories from all or any of the provisions of this Act for such period as it may think fit in the public interest: Provided that no such exemption shall be made for a period exceeding six months at a time. Section 6. Notice to Inspector before commencement of work. – (1) The occupier shall, at least fifteen days before he begins to occupy or use any premises as a factory send to the Chief Inspector a written notice containing the name and situation of the factory,the name and address of the occupier, the address to which communications relating to the factory may be sent,the nature of the manufacturing process – (2) In respect of all factories which come within the scope of this Act for the first time, the occupier shall send a written notice to the Chief Inspector containing particulars specified in sub-section (1) within thirty days from the date of the commencement of this Act.. 3) Before a factory engaged in a manufacturing process, which is ordinarily carried on for less than one hundred and eighty working days in the year, resumes working, the occupier shall send a written notice to the Chief Inspector containing the particulars specified in sub-section (1) within thirty days before the date of the commencement of work. Whenever another person is appointed as Manager, the occupier shall send to the Chief Inspector a written notice of the change, within seven days from the date on which such person assumes charge. (5) During any period for which no person has been designated as Manager of the factory or during which the person so designated does not manage the factory, any person found acting as Manager or if no such person is found, the occupier himself shall be deemed to be the Manager of the factory for the purposes of this Act. Section 7. Seasonal Factory. – The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare any factory in which manufacturing processes are ordinarily carried on for not more than one hundred and eighty working days in the year and cannot be carried on except during particular seasons or at times dependent on the irregular action of natural forces, to be a seasonal factory for the purposes of this Act. Section 8. Approval of plans and fees for licensing and registration. – (1) The Government may require that previous permission in writing be obtained in the prescribed manner from the Chief Inspector for the construction or extension of any factory or class or description of factories, require registration and licensing of factories or any class or description of factories and payment of fees for such registration and licensing or for the renewal of licences, in the prescribed manner. If, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) an application for permission accompanied by the plans and specifications is sent to the Chief Inspector and no order is communicated to the applicant within two months from the date of its receipt by the Chief Inspector, the permission applied for in the said application shall be deemed to have been granted. (3) Where the Chief Inspector refuses to grant permission to the said construction or extension of a factory or to registration and licensing of a factory the applicant may, within sixty days of the date of such refusal, appeal to the Government.

The Rise Of The Italian Renaissance - 1287 Words

The Italian Renaissance, in contrast to the conservative attitude of the Middle Ages, introduced a society dominated by a secular, humanistic spirit. One of the most historically significant events of the Renaissance was the Reformation. Some people argue that the Reformation was a rejection the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Others assert that the Reformation was an embracement of these secular ideas. However as with many questions, this issue cannot be given a definite answer. The events of sixteenth-century Europe shows that the Reformation rejected secular ideas in some ways and embraced them in others. Martin Luther defied the Catholic Church and formed his own ideas on salvation, embracing secularism. In England, Henry VIII would reject Catholic authority, thereby accepting the secular spirit. However, he also rejected secularism by continuing to uphold traditional Catholic theology. Edward VI and Mary I would both establish national religion, of which there was no questioning, and reject the secular spirit. Elizabeth I also established a national religion, but her more conservative religious policies reflected her embracement of secular ideas. On the other hand, John Calvin created a religious sect that was dedicated to ardent religious devotion and righteousness, thereby rejecting secularism. Thus, the Reformation both rejected and embraced the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance. In order to effectively analyze the Reformation in relation theShow MoreRelatedAn Instrument For The Discovery Of Truth1301 Words   |  6 Pagesthough it had its downfalls, it has managed to rise again and influence the world. Burckhardt attempts to save his thesis by discoursing about the Italian Renaissance man. Burckhardt disputes about the Italian Renaissance not producing an Italian Shakespeare. 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