Criticisms have been raised that psychological tests do not actually measure the variables that they claim to measure. As a result, the concept of construct validity is called Into question. This article explores the rationale for measurement criticisms levelled at the field as well as the implications for psychology if pseudo-measurement is perpetuated. The article argues that either a re-conceptualisation of construct validity or the development of a new form of validity evidence may be necessary, if the psychological profession is to meet the future in an ethical and scientific manner.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbrahamsF.MauerK. F. (1999). The comparability of the constructs of the 16PF in the South African context. Journal of Industrial Psychology, 25(1), 53–59.
2.
BarrettP. (1997). BPS test user conference keynote address [O]: <http://www.pbarrett.net>. Accessed on 12 December 2002.
3.
BarrettP. (2000). A personal obituary for my friend and mentor, Paul Kline. [O]: <http://www.pbarrett.net/obituary.html>. Accessed on 12 December 2002.
4.
BarrettP. (2003). The South African SIOPSA keynote address. [O]: <http://www.pbarrett.net>. Accessed on 2 October 2003.
5.
BarrettP. (in press). Beyond psychometrics: Measurement, non-quantitative structure, and applied numerics.
GouldS.J. (1996). The mismeasure of man.New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
11.
HeucheltJ.W.P.ParkerW.D.StumpfH.MyburghCRH (2000). The five-factor model of personality in South African college students. American Behavioral Scientist, 44(1), 112–125.
12.
HuysamenG.K. (2002). The relevance of the new APA standards for educational and psychological testing for employment testing in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychology, 32(2), 26–33.
13.
JacksonJ.S.H.MaraunM. (1996a). The conceptual validity of empirical scale construction: The case of the Sensation Seeking scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 21(1), 103–110.
14.
JacksonJ.S.H.MaraunM. (1996b). Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent. Personality and Individual Differences, 21(1), 115–118.
15.
JensenA.R. (2003). Do age-group differences on mental tests imitate racial differences?. Intelligence, 31(2), 107–121.
16.
KlineP. (2000). Handbook of psychological testing.London: Routledge.
17.
LamingD. (1997). A critique of a measurement-theoretic critique: Commentary on Micheli, quantitative science and the definition of measurement in psychology. British Journal of Psychology, 88(3), 389–391.
18.
LuceR.D. (1997). Quantification and symmetry: Commentary on Micheli, quantitative science and the definition of measurement in psychology. British Journal of Psychology, 88(3), 395–398.
19.
MaraunM. (1997). Appearance and reality: Is the big five the structure of trait descriptors?. Personality and Individual Differences, 22(5), 629–647.
20.
MarsellaA.J.DubanoskiJ.HamadaW.C.MorseH. (2000). The measurement of personality across cultures. American Behavioral Scientist, 44(1), 41–62.
21.
McCraeR.R. (2000). Trait psychology and the revival of personality and culture studies. American Behavioral Scientist, 44(1), 10–31.
22.
MicheliJ. (1990). An introduction to the logic of psychological measurement.Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
23.
MicheliJ. (1997a). Quantitative science and the definition of measurement in psychology. British Journal of Psychology, 88(3), 355–383.
24.
MicheliJ. (1997b). Reply to Kline, Laming, Lovie, Luce and Morgan. British Journal of Psychology, 88(3), 401–406.
25.
MicheliJ. (2000). Normal science, pathological science and psychometrics. Theory and Psychology, 10(5), 639–667.
26.
MurphyK.R.DavidshoferC.O. (2001). Psychological testing: Principles and applications (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
27.
NellV. (1999). Standardising the WAIS-III and the WMS-III for South Africa: Legislative, psychometric, and policy issues. South African Journal of Psychology, 29(3), 128–137.
28.
SeligmanD. (1992). A question of intelligence: The IQ debate in America.New York: Birch Lane Press.
29.
WolfaardtJ.B. (2001). Basic concepts. In FoxcroftC.RoodtG. (Eds), An introduction to psychological assessment in the South African context. (pp. 34–68). Cape Town: Oxford.
