Influence of Historical Events/ Interviewing vs Testing - Research Paper Example

Influence of Historical Events/ Interviewing vs. Testing Assignment Influence of Historical EventsPsychology cannot achieve the exactness and certainty of physical sciences except when it respites on a base of measurement and experiment. An account of psychological testing is an enamoring tale that has a rich significance to contemporary practices. Present-day tests evolved tardily from a host of predecessors introduced long time ago. The beginning of psychological testing and measuring can be traced back to the early 19th century.

In the middle of 19th century, evaluation of the mentally ill people brought about the development of various ancient tests (McArthur, 1983).Hubert Von Grashey, in 1885, formulated the “antecedent of the memory drum” as a way of testing and measuring brain-wounded patients. The subjects were shown symbols, words and pictures via a slit in a paper that moved tardily and gently over the stimuli. Grashey established that the patients could distinguish stimuli in their entirety but could not recognize them when moved through the slot (Gregory, 2003).

This led Conrad Rieger, a German Psychiatrist, to come up with a test battery for brain impairment. In 1822-1911, Galton devised the first battery of measurement and tests. This was a momentous classification of mortar and sensory measures. Early Psychological tests and measurements led to the mental test movement by indicating that uniform processes and procedures could assist in disclosing the extent and nature of indications of the brain-wounded and mentally sick patient (Gregory, 2003).Francis Galton initiated the new observational psychology in the 19th century in Great Britain.

He attempted to measure and test by ways of sensory discrimination and reaction time. He adopted the long psychological processes practiced by other ancient psychologists to a quick and easy sensor motor measure. He did not succeed in gauging intellect and ensured the passage of the Immigration Passage Act in 1924 (Gregory, 2003).Class #1, Assignment #2: Interviewing vs. TestingThe main query that arises when planning an experiment or test is whether to acquire subjective or objective performance data.

Objective performance data is always ideal in experiments and is a need for design examinations whenever the examination measures are objective (Cushman and Rosenberg, 1991). Berrios and Hodges (2000) define an objective method as an entirely unbiased method based on predetermined criteria and does not consider the previous tests or experiences of the person tested. Berrios and Hodges (2000) assert that a subjective testing method is a method that puts the character of the individual into consideration.

This method has a foundation in reality but ponders the position through which the individual regards reality.I would recommend a test battery in deciding a parole. This is because a panel interview proves to be unfair and does not consider the character of the speaker over a period. This is the reason why the prisoners gave unequivocal answers to the panel of the interviewers and granted a release. There could be some traces of biases in subjective methods of testing as demonstrated by Berrios and Hodges (2000).

In subjective methods, the individual attitudes may be affected by past events.According to Cushman and Rosenberg (1991), there are three sources of objective measurements that can be used in user trials. These sources include direct, objective assessments of the individual, some directly recorded data in a video or audio devise arising from the individual’s actions and the information evaluated from the recorded data. These obtained data provide an insightful basis on how the parole can be issued to the prisoners.

ReferencesBerrios, G. E., & Hodges, J. R. (2000). Memory Disorders in Psychiatric Practice. Cambridge University Press. Cushman, W. H., & Rosenberg, D. J. (1991). Human Factors innProduct Design. The University of Michigan. Gregory, C. (2003). The Origins of Psychological Testing. History of Psychological Testing. Retrieved 2003, McArthur, D. L. (1983). Educational Testing and Measurement: A brief History. Retrieved 1983,