ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Social, Basic and Methodological Psychology
Areas: Behavioural Science Methodology
Center Faculty of Psychology
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
INTRODUCTION
Psychometrics is taught in the first quadrimester of the second year of the Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Together with Data Analysis in Psychology, Research Designs and Research in Psychology (1st year) and Multivariate Analysis (2nd quadrimester, 2nd year), it is a part of the Methodology of Behavioural Sciences area. These subjects constitute the methodological training provided to students of the Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the USC.
OBJECTIVES
Although Psychometrics is concerned with everything pertaining to measurements in Psychology, this subject focuses on so-called “Test Theory”, which deals with the logic behind the most salient mathematical models for constructing and using tests in this field, namely: Classical Test Theory (CTT), which is taught in depth, and Item Response Theory (IRT), which is only introduced briefly here.
The primary goal is to have students know the procedure for constructing a test, and the methods and techniques to be used, and also to acquire the abilities needed to understand and appreciate psychometric information from commercially available tests and apply them properly.
I. INTRODUCTION
Unit 1. Delimitation of the field of Psychometrics: Measurement in Psychology. Definition of Psychometrics. Origins and development of Psychometrics. Theories of tests.
Unit 2.- Tests: Definition, history and classification: Definition of tests. Classification of tests. Stages in the construction of a test.
II. DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ITEMS
Unit 3. Design and development of items: Introduction. Item construction. Response formats. Quantification of responses.
Unit 4. Item analysis: Difficulty index. Discrimination index. Homogeneity index. Reliability index. Validity index. Item analysis in relation to the test. Distractor analysis.
III. CLASSICAL MODEL AND RELIABILITY
Unit 5. Theoretical framework, TCT and IRT: Classical Test Theory. Item Response Theory.
Unit 6. Reliability indicators of a test: Concept of reliability. Reliability as precision. The reliability coefficient. Reliability estimation procedures. Cronbach's alpha. Standard error of measurement and reliability index. Estimation of reliability as precision.
Unit 7. Factors affecting the reliability of a test: Test length. Variability of the test.
IV. VALIDITY
Unit 8. Concept and evidence of validity. Introduction. Concept of validity. Evidence of validity: evidence based on the content of the test, evidence based on the internal structure, and on the relationship with other variables.
Unit 9. Exploratory factor analysis. Introduction. Overview of AFE. Steps of AFE: correlation matrix, extraction, rotation and factorials scores.
Unit 10. Validity coefficient. Introduction. Validity coefficient and interpretation. Using tests to predict criteria: the correlation and regression analysis. Factors influencing validity.
V. STANDARIZATION AND REPORT
Unit 11. Interpretation of scores. Introduction. Transformations of direct test scores: Percentiles, standard Z scores and standard derived scores.
Unit 12. Report of the psychometrics proprieties of test.
INTERACTIVE CLASS PROGRAMME
1. Obtaining and preparing data for the psychometric analysis of a test.
2. Item analysis.
3. Reliability.
4. Factor analysis.
5. Elaboration of psychometric report.
6. Criterion-referenced validity and baremation.
7. Presentation of the psychometric properties of a test.
BASIC
Abad, F.J. Olea, J., Ponsoda, V., & García, C. (2011). Medición en ciencias sociales y de la salud. Madrid: Síntesis.
Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos (COP). Comisión Internacional de Tests (ITC). Directrices internacionales para el uso de los tests. http://www.cop.es/index.php?page=directrices-internacionales
Fernández Muñoz, J.J. & Marquínez Rengifo, J.M. (2019). Introducción a la Psicometría. Madrid: OMMPress.
Martínez Arias, R., Hernández Lloreda, M.J., & Hernández Lloreda (2014). Psicometría. Madrid: Alianza. (Libro-e: Texto completo disponible vía PRELO).
Meneses, J., Barrios, M., Bonillo, A., Cosculluela, A., Lozano, L.M., Turbany, J. & Valero, S. (2013). Psicometría. Barcelona: UOC.
Muñiz, J. (2018). Introducción a la psicometría. Teoría clásica y TRI. Madrid: Pirámide.
Prieto, G. & Delgado, A.R. (2010). Fiabilidad y validez. Papeles del Psicólogo, 31(1), 67-74.
Seoane, G. & Rodríguez, M.S. (2001). Análisis factorial. En C. Arce y E. Real, Introducción al análisis estadístico con SPSS para Windows (pp. 189-204). Barcelona: PPU.
COMPLEMENTARY
American Psychological Association, American Educational Research Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.
Barbero García, M.I., Holgado Tello, F.P. & Vila Abad, E. (2015). Psicometría. Madrid: Sanz y Torres.
de Ayala, R. J. (2022). The theory and practice of item response theory (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Hidalgo Montesinos, M.D., French, B.F., Finch, H. & Immekus, J.C. (2022). Psicometría aplicada usando SPSS y AMOS. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Miller, L.A. & Lovier, R.L. (2016). Foundations of psychological testing. A practical approach (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Muñiz, J. (1997). Introducción a la teoría de respuesta a los ítems. Madrid: Pirámide.
Muñiz, J. & Fonseca-Pedrero, E. (2019). Diez pasos para la construcción de un test. Psicothema, 31(1), 7-16. doi: 10.7334/psicothema2018.29
Santiesteban Requena, C. (2009). Principios de psicometría. Madrid: Síntesis.
Specific competences of the degree to which he contributes this subject:
EC1 • To know and understand the functions, characteristics, contributions and shortcomings of existing theoretical methods in Psychology.
EC7 • To know and understand the different methods available for psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment in different applied fields of Psychology (clinical and medical, social, educational).
EC9 • Identify the most salient characteristics of behaviour in individuals, groups, organizations and contexts by using the typical methods, techniques and instruments for psychological assessment.
EC11 • Select and implement the typical techniques and instruments of Psychology.
EC14 • Produce psychological reports in different contexts, both for the recipient and for other professionals.
EC15 • Comply with the deontological duties of the Psychology profession.
Specific competences of the subject. The specific competences of the degree make concrete in the following specific competences of the subject:
• To know available methods for constructing measurement instruments in Psychology, as well as their application and existing techniques for their psychometric assessment.
• To know the main strategies for designing, quantifying and analysing the metric properties of the different types of items; to select the most suitable procedures for assessing reliability and validity; and to optimize the psychometric properties of measurement instruments.
• To be able to use basic software for analysing the psychometric properties of tests (SPSS).
• To be able to produce technical reports on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments by using accurate language.
• To know and understand the psychometric indicators derived with the assessment instruments used in the different areas of Psychology, as well as those identified in scientific publications.
EXHIBITION SESSIONS: in which the different topics of the programme will be explained (topics 1 to 12), distributed throughout the first four-month period in two weekly sessions, with a duration of 1h 15m.
INTERACTIVE SESSIONS: whose purpose will be to complement the contents of the lectures by means of practical applications. They will take place in a laboratory of the Faculty with computer equipment where the statistical package SPSS will be used. These sessions will have a duration of 2 hours in alternate weeks.
To follow these classes, students will have support material prepared by the professors and other documents that will be provided, with sufficient time in advance, in the Virtual Campus of the subject. In addition, they will be able to consult the basic bibliography of free access or in electronic format, available through the library services of the Faculty.
AUTONOMOUS WORK OF THE STUDENT: in addition to attending the activities indicated in the previous paragraphs, the student will have to dedicate time to read complementary materials, carrying out practical exercises, and studying the contents that will be developed during the course. It is necessary that the student masters the theoretical contents required for the adequate development and use of the interactive sessions.
ATTENDANCE TO CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES: it is considered essential to achieve the objectives of the program. Attendance to all interactive sessions will be controlled. Attendance to the interactive classes will be mandatory in the continuous assessment, with a percentage of attendance of 60%. Attendance at the scheduled interactive classes will be recorded manually, and students will be informed of the number of attendances in the grades section of the Virtual Campus of the subject. When the justification for the lack of attendance to the interactive classes is apt and accredited within a maximum period of 5 days, the student will be offered an alternative for the completion of the interactive class, whenever possible.
TUTORIALS: the teachers are available in tutorials to answer doubts and any question regarding the development of the program and its contents. The tutoring schedule of each teacher will be communicated at the beginning of the course and will be displayed in the Virtual Classroom and in their respective offices.
The necessary curricular adaptations will be made to guarantee equal opportunities and universal accessibility for people with special educational needs, with the support and advice of the "Servicio de Participación e Integración Universitaria" (SEPIU) of the University of Santiago de Compostela.
The evaluation of learning and acquired competences will be based on several elements, whose relative weight in the final result is expressed below:
1. Continuous assessment (30%) by carrying out:
- A formative assessment of the first half of the subject (topics 1 to 7) which will consist of a theoretical/practical test of said contents, to be carried out in the middle of the first quarter, with a weight of 1 point on the final grade.
- A group work that will consist of the elaboration of a report based on the data analysed in the interactive classes and the theoretical/practical contents taught, to be presented in December at the end of the four-month period. This work will have a weight of 2 points on the final grade.
The planning of the continuous assessment tasks will be conditioned to the calendar of classes as well as the activities of the other subjects of the second year, whose coordination will be carried out at the beginning of the course.
The continuous assessment mark (max. 3 points) will only be applied to those students who have attended at least 60% of the interactive classes and pass the final exam (with a mark of 3.5 or more). In addition, the score obtained in the continuous assessment and the number of attendances to the interactive classes will be kept for two academic years, in case the subject is not passed. Repeating students will always be able to retake the activities included in the continuous assessment of the current academic year in order to improve their marks.
2. Final exam (70%) which will consist of questions on theoretical/practical contents included in the syllabus related to the results of the psychometric analysis of a test (SPSS). The form and the calculator may be used as support material. The date of the exam corresponds to the official timetable published on the Faculty's website and on the centre's notice board.
The completion/submission of any of the tests listed in the preceding sections implies the incorporation of the evaluation process, so it will lead to a final grade of the subject.
In order to pass the subject, students must pass the exam and obtain a total score (sum of continuous assessment + final exam) equal to or higher than 5.
Those students who do not take part in the continuous assessment may take the exam for the whole subject in which both theoretical and practical contents are assessed. In order to pass the exam they will have to obtain a score of 5 out of 7 points.
In the second opportunity to pass the subject, scheduled for the month of June/July for those students who do not pass or do not sit the exam at the first opportunity, a final exam will be held with the same characteristics as described above. In addition, students who wish to improve or obtain their score in the continuous assessment will have a second period (in June) to present the work planned for the first opportunity.
Students who are granted dispensation from class attendance (following the Instruction No. 1/2017 of the General Secretariat on the dispensation of class attendance in certain circumstances), will be evaluated with a final exam that will account for 70% of the grade, in addition to an autonomous work (30%) that will be specified in tutorials with the teachers of the subject.
In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests will apply the provisions of the Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students and review of grades (Resolution June 15, 2011, DOG July 21, 2011).
The subject is allocated 6 ETCS credits, which corresponds to an estimated total of 150 hours of student work distributed as follows:
Attendance of in-class activities (lectures, assessment): 50 hours
Out-of-class work: 100 hours, including preparation of lecture and class contents,resolution of exercises and study of the subject materials.
In order to properly learn this subject, students are advised to:
(1) Fulfil the objectives of the first year of the Bachelor’s degree, especially as regards the subjects most closely related to Psychometrics (Data Analysis in Psychology and Research Designs).
(2) To keep up with work on the subject by completing the proposed activities, reading the recommended materials, studying the taught contents, and attending tutorial sessions to solve their doubts or obtain guidance on their learning process.
Maria Soledad Rodriguez Gonzalez
Coordinador/a- Department
- Social, Basic and Methodological Psychology
- Area
- Behavioural Science Methodology
- Phone
- 881813793
- msoledad.rodriguez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Eduardo Picon Prado
- Department
- Social, Basic and Methodological Psychology
- Area
- Behavioural Science Methodology
- Phone
- 881813739
- eduardo.picon [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
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| 13:15-14:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 5 |
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| 12:00-13:15 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 5 |
| 13:15-14:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Classroom 6 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 3 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 5 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 5 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 6 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 6 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 7 |
| 01.09.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 7 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 6 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 6 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 7 |
| 06.19.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Classroom 7 |