Page 376 - Understanding Psychology

Figure 13.13 The KPR
Shown are items from the Kuder Preference Record (KPR). The indi- vidual taking the test chooses from among three possible activities the one he or she would most like to do and the one he or she would least like to do. What is the Kuder Preference Record designed to measure?
G. Read a love story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H. Read a mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I.Readsciencefiction ..............
Most
Least
G. H. I.
J. Visit an art gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K.Browseinalibrary ............... L.Visitamuseum .................
J. K. L.
M.Collectautographs ............... N. Collect coins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O.Collectbutterflies ................
M. N. O.
P. Watch television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q. Goforawalk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R. Listentomusic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
P. Q. R.
5. Application Activity
Choose a favorite sport or hobby. Devise a short aptitude test that you
think would help predict how well an individual would be able to learn the skills needed for the sport or hobby you chose.
the idea of becoming astronomers but would not be interested in a coaching job, whereas peo- ple in general were evenly divided on these (and other) questions. A person who responded as the engi- neers did would rank high on the scale of interest in engineering. The Kuder Preference Record, part of which is shown in Figure 13.13, is based on the same principle.
The purpose of these measures is to help people find the career that is right for them. It is important to note that although interest inventories can be of great value to people who are undecided about the career path they should take, they provide only one source of
information. Along with interests, a student’s abilities should be taken into account. A person should not make an important decision, such as that of career, on the basis of a single test or inventory.
Assessment
3. Recall Information What is the con- tent validity of a test? What is the pre- dictive validity of a test?
4. Think Critically Do you think a person should base his or her career choice on the results of an interest test? Explain your answer.
Write a short paragraph explaining what aptitude,
1. Review the Vocabulary
achievement tests, and interest invento- ries are designed to measure.
2. Visualize the Main Idea Using a dia- gram similar to the one below, identify why an individual might take an apti- tude, achievement, or interest inventory.
Why would someone take this test?
Aptitude test Achievement test Interest inventory
362 Chapter 13 / Psychological Testing