Explain how you might ensure that your sample represents the population of interest.
Test and Measurement for Psychology
In order to compare individuals to a population, that population must be sampled using a standardization sample, also
referred to as a norm group. This group represents the population for which a test is intended. There are a number of
important considerations when choosing a test’s standardization sample, such as how large your sample needs to be and
how you plan to access your participants and induce them to participate. You may also need to consider whether the
participants should be representative of the general population or of a specialized subpopulation and how diverse the
sample should be. You may have general norms or separate norms according to demographic characteristics, such as age
and gender. How to address these considerations depends on the goals of your assessment and will affect the test
interpretation.
Explain how you might ensure that your sample represents the population of interest.
Post results of your test instrument should be, so that you have a standardized score against which to compare
others. In other words, the data allow you to equate scores across different tests of the same construct and let you
compare individuals to each other. Now that you have considered sampling the population of interest for your proposed
test instrument, you explore how you might optimally define your sample and collect your data if you had unlimited
resources. Although it may not always be possible for practical reasons to do this in real life, this exercise
nevertheless provides you with a valuable thought experiment.
As you complete this experiment, keep in mind that even with optimal sample definition and data collection, test
norms are not absolute. They can change with time or with a different norm group.
Post a description of the information you anticipate collecting through your proposed Final Project instrument. Then
explain how you would optimally define your sample and collect your data if you had unlimited resources. Finally,
explain advantages and disadvantages of your chosen data collection method.
