This is a psychometric property of sex (or gender) equality. Another psychometric property of the whole test could indicate whether the instrument appraises the target construct equally well for women and men. The attribute of a test measuring only a single dimension-or more than one dimension if that is the case-is a psychometric property of the complete instrument. For example, when looking at a whole test, a psychometric property could indicate whether the instrument measures a single construct or many. Some properties provide evidence as to the quality of the whole instrument, while others provide evidence about its constituent parts, its sections, or even its individual items. Psychometric properties focus on particular features of a test. In its most general usage, therefore, psychometric property as a scientific term refers to some essential attribute of the test. Instead, whenever a particular feature of a test is described in terms of scientific standards (i.e., not just mentioned in casual conversation), it may be considered as a psychometric property. The test’s psychometric properties provide test makers and users with evidence of whether the instrument performs as portrayed.Īlthough numerous psychometric properties exist for describing the technical qualities of tests, they are not catalogued into a convenient, definitive list. As illustration, suppose a test is advertised as a measure useful for diagnosing a personality disorder such as schizophrenia. Most commonly, psychometric properties provide information about a test’s appropriateness, meaningfulness, and usefulness-in other words, its validity. Psychometric properties are characteristics of tests and other measures of human characteristics that identify and describe attributes of an instrument, such as its reliability or appropriateness for use in a particular circumstance. The internal attributes of a test are technically termed its psychometric properties. Still, many persons who use test results realize that the usefulness and appropriateness of test-score interpretation is a direct result of the test’s internal characteristics. Examinees and other test users are usually interested only in the results yielded by a test administration generally they are not attuned to characteristics or technical features of the instrument itself.

Appraisal of human characteristics-such as achievement, ability, proficiency, attitude, belief, or another construct-is routinely accomplished through administration of a test, which is itself often carefully developed and administered by standardized protocols.

Reliability of psychometric tests