Psychological Assessment

STUDENT NO: 44674481
COURSE:

IOP4861

ASSIGNMENT:

527463

STUDENT NO.:

44674481

STUDENT NO: 44674481
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1
PAGE NUMBER

1.

INTRODUCTION

3

1.

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT?

4

1.1.

DEFINING PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

4

1.2.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AND RELATED TERMS

4

1.2.1.

Measurement and Assessment

4

1.2.2.

Evaluation and Assessment

4

1.2.3.

Psychometrics and Assessment

5

1.2.4.

Testing and Assessment

5

1.2.5.

Psychometric Testing and Assessment

5

1.3.

THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

5

1.4.

THE VALUE OF PSYCHOLIGICAL ASSESSMENT IN INDUSTRY

5

2.

FAIRNESS AND BIAS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT

6

2.1.

THE CONCEPT OF FAIRNESS AND BIAS

6

2.2.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IN SOUTH AFRICA

7

2.2.1.

Early Use (Pre-Apartheid Era) of Psychological Assessments

7

2.2.2.

Development of Tests During the Apartheid Era

7

2.2.3.

Development of Tests in Post Apartheid Era

8

2.3.

ENHANCING FAIRNESS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

8

2.3.1.

Changes in Constitution

8

2.3.2.

The Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995)

9

2.3.3.

The Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998)

9

2.3.4.

Professional Bodies

9

2.4.

ENHANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAIR AND UNBIASED ASSESSMENT MEASURES

10

2.4.1.

Steps in Test Development

10

2.4.2.

Core Characteristics of psychometric test

11

3.

CONCLUSION

12

STUDENT NO: 44674481

2

4.

REFERENCES

13

5.

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

15

STUDENT NO: 44674481

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1. INTRODUCTION
Organisations worldwide are currently facing increasing competition, price pressures and slower growth rates and in order to be successful, for many organisations, this prompts the need to constantly change to survive. Having the right employee fit-for-purpose is imperative to the success of an organisation faced with such challenges. The use of psychological assessment is a key enabler for the appropriate selection and development of employees in

References: Bartram, D. (2004). Assessment in organisations. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 53(2), 237-259. Claassen, N.C.W. (1997). Cultural differences, politics and test bias in South Africa. European Review of Applied Psychology, 4th trimester, 47(4), 297-307. De Beer, M. (2006). Dynamic testing: practical solutions to some concerns. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 32(4), 814. Foxcroft, C.D. (2004). Planning a psychological test in the multicultural South African context. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 32 (4), 8-14. Foxcroft, C.D. (2006). Critically examining language bias in the South African adaptation of the WAIS-III. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 32, p Foxcroft, C. D. (2011). Ethical issues related to psychological testing in Africa: What I have learned (so far). Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(2) Foxcroft, C., & Roodt, G. (2005). An overview of assessment: definition and scope. In Foxcroft, C. & Roodt, G. (Eds.), An introduction to psychological assessment in the South African context (2nd ed., pp Gregory, R.J. (2000). Psychological testing: History, principles and application (3 rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Joiner, D.A. (2000). Guidelines and ethical considerations for assessment center operations. Public Personnel Management, 29(3), 315-331. Louw, J. (2002). Psychology, history and society. South African Journal of Psychology, 32(1), 1-8. Louw, J. & van Hoorn, W. (1997). Psychology, conflict, and peace in South Africa: Historical notes. Journal of Peace Psychology, 3(3), 233-243. Mauer, K.F. (2000). Psychological test use in South Africa. Retrieved November 24, 2003 from the World Wide Web : http.//sunsite.wits.ac.za/conference/psychology/pai1 Moerdyk, A. (2009). The principles and practices of psychological assessment. Pretoria: Van Schaik. Painter, D. & Terre Blanche, M. (2004). Critical psychology in South Africa: Looking back and looking forwards. Draft of a paper Sehlapelo, M. & Terre Blanche, M. (1996). Psychometric testing in South Africa: Views from above and below. Setshedi, M.J. (2008). Investigating the use of psychological assessment in South African schools. Unpublished Masters Dissertation Van de Vijver, A.J.R. & Rothmann, I. (2004). Assessment in multicultural groups: the South African case. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 30(4), 1-7. Van der Merwe, R.P. (2002). Psychometric testing and human resource management. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 28(2), 77-86. Wassenaar, D.R. (1998). A history of ethical codes in South African psychology: an insider‘s view. South African Journal of Psychology, 28(3), 135-145. 5.2 Foxcraft & Roodt (2009) was most useful. I have used other journal articles for reference and examples such as other studies by by Foxcroft, as well as some internet references (example dissertation on the use of psychological