Test and Measurement. Bias and Cultural diversity in Psychological Assessment

An Empirical Review

Scientific Essay from the year 2013 in the subject Psychology - Learning Psychology, Intelligence Research, grade: A, Atlantic International University (Social and Behvioural Sciences), course: Doctor of Clinical Psycghology (D.clin.psy), language: English, abstract: A century of research evidence on psychological assessment shows that scientist have made several efforts to advance a ''culture free'' tests (Jensen, 1980). Similarly, research also demonstrates that only a few numbers of issues in psychology research divide researchers and the general public as the use of standardized assessments with diverse culture. To illuminate these concerns and possibilities in a concrete context, the article systematically analyse the history of psychological assessment and explains the application of psychometric and socio-cultural framework for psychological tests .This article uses empirical evidence to analyses cultural bias in psychological tests and explores various approaches that describes and examine bias in psychological assessment. Moreover, the paper also explores (1)the taxonomy of bias and equivalence in psychological testing,(2) identifies issues surrounding test bias, (3)explain sources of bias (4) evaluate how culture influences psychological assessment of diverse groups and last but not the least,(5)examine the inference of bias controversy and recommend various processes that remove bias in psychological assessment. Finally, findings reveal that psychological test performance on different cultural group shows different outcomes.

Olusegun Afolabi had his first degree, B.Sc (Hon) Psychology from University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1998, Master degree in Children Health Development Learning Intervention (M. CHILD) from Malardalen University, Sweden in 2006, Master of Social Work (Clinical) from University of Botswana, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from Atlantic International University, USA and PhD in Special Education from University of Botswana . Dr. Afolabi, is a member of British Psychological Society (MBPsS) and International Society in Early Intervention (ISEI).