Psychometrics Prerequisites
This module is part of the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme which is a shared platform for providing research students with a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods skills that are relevant across the social sciences.
An introduction to the design, validation and implementation of tests and questionnaires in social science research, using both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and modern psychometric methods such as Item Response Theory (IRT). This course aims to enable students to: be able to construct and validate a test or questionnaire; understand the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of existing tests and questionnaires; appreciate the impact and potential of modern psychometric methods in the internet age.
- Mphil and PhD students from participating departments taking the Social Science Research Methods Centre training programme as part of their research degree
- Students need basic understanding of Statistics up to chi-square, correlation and simple linear regression.
Number of sessions: 4
| # | Date | Time | Venue | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon 9 Nov 2015 16:00 - 18:00 | 16:00 - 18:00 | 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 6 | map | Prof. John Rust |
| 2 | Mon 16 Nov 2015 16:00 - 18:00 | 16:00 - 18:00 | 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 6 | map | Dr David Stillwell |
| 3 | Mon 23 Nov 2015 16:00 - 18:00 | 16:00 - 18:00 | 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 6 | map | Dr Luning Sun |
| 4 | Mon 30 Nov 2015 16:00 - 18:00 | 16:00 - 18:00 | 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 6 | map | Prof. John Rust |
- Session 1: Introduction to psychometrics
- Session 2: Testing in the online environment
- Session 3: Modern Psychometrics
- Session 4: Distributing and publishing your test
To enable students to understand and use tests and questionnaires in social science research using both classical test theory and modern psychometric methods.
- To introduce students to the design, validation and implementation of tests and questionnaires in social science research.
- To enable students to construct and validate a test
- To understand the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of existing tests and questionnaires
- To appreciate the impact and potential of modern psychometric methods in the internet age.
Presentations, lectures.
An exercise in test construction [optional, dependent upon department]
- Rust, J. And Golombok, S. (2009) Modern Psychometrics 3rd Edition. Routledge.
- Flynn, J. (2009) What is intelligence? Beyond the Flynn Effect. Cambridge University Press.
- Brown, T. A. (2006) Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Applied Researchers. The Guildford Press, London.
- de Ayala, R. J. (2008) The Theory and Practice of Item Response Theory. Guilford Press.
- DeVellis, R. F. (2012) Scale Development: Theory and Applications, 3rd Edition. Sage
- Hambleton, R. K., Swaminathan, H. S. & Rogers, H. J. (1991) Fundamentals of Item Response Theory. Sage.
- Urbina, S. (2004) Essentials of Psychological Testing. Wiley & Sons, NJ
Further material available on http://www.psychometrics.cam.ac.uk
- To gain maximum benefits from the course it is important that students do not see this course in isolation from the other MPhil courses or research training they are taking.
- Responsibility lies with each student to consider the potential for their own research using methods common in fields of the social sciences that may seem remote. Ideally this task will be facilitated by integration of the SSRMC with discipline-specific courses in their departments and through reading and discussion.
Four sessions of two hours each
Once a week for four weeks.
Booking / availability