Introduction : Definition, purpose, choosing an experimental design - carry over effects, individual differences; design problems
Types of Research Designs : Between subject designs – characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, application & statistical analysis Randomized group design, randomized block design (single subject in each cell); Factorial Experiments : two factors (equal cell frequencies) three factors (equal cell frequencies, Homogenity of variance (Hartley’s test)
Within Subject Designs : characteristics; Advantages and disadvantages; application and statistical analysis – single factor, two factors, trend analysis, mixed design : characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, application and statistical analysis – 2 factors
12.00
Unit II:
Psychometrics
The assessment of individuals : Measurement in the social sciences; Historical highlights of measurement; statistical background – scales of measurement, the normal distribution, probability and statistical significance, sampling distributions, correlation, linear regression, score meaning; Identification of construct – links between constructs, construct cleanliness, single vs multiple construct
12.00
Unit III:
Psychometrics
Designing and writing items : Empirical, theoretical and rational approaches to item construction, assessing behaviour – critical incident technique, plot testing, summary and next step.
Designing and scoring response : open-ended responses; close ended questions; Dichotomous responses; multiple choice tests- distracters, guessing, speed and power tests, omitted and partial credits; continuous responses – summated rating scales, likert-scale, visual analogue scales, pictorial, adjective rating scales.
12.00
Unit IV:
Psychometrics
Item analysis : Meaning steps; classical test theory, modern test theory
12.00
Unit V:
Psychometrics
Reliability of test scores and test items : Test –retest reliability, alternative forms reliability, measures of internal consistency - split – half, cronbach’s alpha, coefficient theta, Kuder Richardson.
Assessing validity using content and criterion method : Asking the test takers and subject matter experts, assessments using correlations and regression; multiple criteria, group differences and test bias.
References:
Nunnally, J.C. (1978). Psychometric theory . New York : McGraw Hill.
Kline, T.J.B.. (2005). Psychological Testing. New Delhi : Vistar Publications.
Best, J.W., & Kahn, J.V. (2003). Research in Education. New Delhi : Prentice Hall of India.
Chaddha, N.K. (1996). Theory and Practice of Psychometry. New Delhi : New Age International Ltd.
Anastasi, A., & Urbina, S. (2005). Psychological Testing. Delhi : Pearson Education.
Broota, K. D. (1989). Experimental Design in Behavioural Research. New Delhi : New Age International.
Freeman, F.S. (1965). Theory and Practices of Psychological Testing. New Delhi : Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.