Construction and Standardization of Psychology Aptitude Test for Incoming College Psychology Students

Abstract

Psychology programs in higher education institutions rely on accurate assessment tools to gauge the aptitude of incoming students effectively. However, existing standardized tests often fail to address the unique skill sets and knowledge domains specific to psychology, emphasizing the necessity for a tailored Psychology Aptitude Test. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing and standardizing a Psychology Aptitude Test tailored for incoming college psychology students. Anchored on Item Response Theory (IRT), the study endeavors to create a test that comprehensively evaluates students' preparedness for the BS Psychology program. Objectives include assessing the Psychology Aptitude Test's validity, item difficulty and discrimination indices, and reliability. Findings reveal a sound measurement with strong content validity, balanced difficulty levels, and internal consistency. Recommendations for ongoing item review, expanded validation studies, and predictive validity assessment are provided to optimize the test's effectiveness in evaluating psychological aptitude within college environments.