Discovering Talent and Potential

Copyright :Cognadev UK Ltd Discovering Talent and Potential

Dr Maretha Prinsloo

Discovering Talent and Potential

The future of assessment

Copyright :Cognadev UK Ltd

Demands on assessment:

dynamic complexity integrated and contextualised nature of human

functioning collective consciousness & the evolution of

consciousness ethical considerations societal needs technology theoretical trends





Thus much room for improvement of current assessment methodologies


Psychometrics criticised for:

little innovation commercial viability

“We have a relatively stable, mature, market consisting of a few standard assessment formats … which are liberally branded by a variety of companies. These tests barely differ in content, accuracy, or utility; they differ solely in

terms of their marketing.” (Barrett, 2011)

Barrett regards conventional psychometrics as a “pathology of science”




Psychometrics:

• use of limited experimental designs

• weak quantification

• weaker assessment methodologies

• causal inference based on correlational models




Research focus on:

• the number of constructs • the level at which these are to be conceptualized • the structure of the model (single, multiple,

hierarchical, facet, phases, interactive, cube, overlapping , linear-causal, quadrants…)

• the statistical methods to be used (correlations or correlations)

• the constructs e.g. IQ, personality and EQ• researched via individual differences




The Scientific status of Psychology

• explanatory sciences • descriptive sciences• speculative sciences

These fields are characterized by differences in:

• ontology (entities / object of study) • epistemology (how we get to know) • methodology (investigative techniques)




Psychology: a descriptive science with a weak rational basis and only

some empirical grounding

David Freedman (1991), a mathematician, recommends a “low-tech” approach which “relies on intimate knowledge of the subject matter and a meticulous research design …”

“Simplicity after complexity” given robust design and rigour




Why do we want to test

• commercial viability

• statistical challenges posed

• pragmatic considerations of HR

• clinical applications

• educational development





The future of assessment:

- Constructs - Methodology

- Innovation - Dynamic modeling

- Integration - Contextualisation

- Internet - Statistics

- Effectiveness of assessment - Legal & ethical

- Practical utility - International collaboration

- Psychophysiological


Future constructs:

• Intelligence → cognitive processing → wisdom → intuition

• Personality assessment → motivation → consciousness

• Integrity → compassion• Leadership → intention




Future methodology

Statistics not well suited to Psychology

Johnson (1936): "Those data should be measured which can be measured; those which cannot be measured should be treated otherwise.”

“Statistics has failed to demonstrate the true structure of the attributes it is studying. … It has failed to understand the difference between quantity and quality as distinguishable modes of being”

(Grice, 2012)




Statistics in Psychometrics:

• averages• group membership and category • bell curve (not for random data / qualitative

differences)• standard deviation• correlations • null hypotheses (no proof)




Dilemma: meaning lost via testing and statistical analysis

Resulted in: devising more complex analytical techniques without reconsidering the fundamental premises

But, psychology operates in a subtle, complex, dynamic and interactive world, one that appears random because we don’t understand the dynamics involved

Although statistical inference has not served psychology that well, formal analysis of data is important in any science




Statistics

“Substantive methodological synergies” (Marsh et al 2009)

integrating multilevel and structural equation approaches

to control measurement and sampling error




A call for Innovation:

An approach which caters for the dynamic and complex nature of human functioning is required

• Brad Woods (2011): very little progress except for Observation Oriented

Modelling (OOM) – behaviour seen as goal directed and purposeful, not mechanical and responsive

• Barrett (2011, 2012): Innovations include: Cognitive Process Profile (CPP) Read et al’s (2010) neural net research in personality Gigerenzer and colleagues from the ABC group: "fast and

frugal heuristics”




Dynamic modeling Move from broad generalizations into more

precisely modeling the individual

Not for psychometrics and statisticians, but for

“scientist-philosopher-heuristics specialists” (Barrett)

Consider technology platforms and business intelligence / rules for dynamic assessment




Dynamic modeling • to capture the output of a "complex", self-

organizing, adaptive system• may require a new kind of systems-modeling• where trajectory mapping for an individual is the

goal • rather than "measurement" of psychological

attributes The issue is thus not "psychometrics - measurability", but the "outcome-consequences" of a dynamic complex system (Barrett, 2011)




Dynamic modeling techniques:

Neural net applications and algorithmically based, “if-then” expert systems

• CPP • OOM




Integration of study fields and constructs

Human functioning is integrated(physiological, emotional, motivational, psychological, spiritual and collective factors)

Holistic assessment practices Human functioning is contextualised Integration of disciplines (e.g. psychology & neurology /

sociology …) Integration of nomological networks of concepts




Building of an integrated science

Across epistemologies: both emic (meaningful to actor) and etic (objective description) perspectives

Across disciplines

Across schools of psychology

Across constructs




Contextualisation of assessment results

Human functioning involves individual, collective and contextual components Currently dealt with via:• competency approach• person-job-matching • situational judgement methodology

Challenge: cross-cultural bias




Internet options and delivery

• Spread to a wider audience• The individual taking charge of own growth • Social networks• New functionalities e.g. alternative item

generation




Ensuring the effectiveness of assessment

• Determining the actual value that tests add to the

user• Evidence of the utility of assessment is required to

guide investment in psychometric research and application

• But how to measure it• Maybe also systems modeling plus rigorous

evidence-base designs




Ethical and legal implications

• Current pragmatic value of psychometrics • Benefits of the test subject: self-assessment and

self-development offerings, job applications• Feuerstein: assessment should have a

developmental impact• Cross-cultural bias and fairness• Addressing values of business leadership• Intellectual property challenges




Practical utility of assessment

• Clinical purposes• Legal field• Moral-ethical matters• Optimising the man-machine interface • Advertising • Learning disabilities• Relationship counselling • Self-development




International collaboration and group research

Barrett suggests large scale international academic collaboration




Psychophysiological

Medical imaging to integrate functional and structural aspects of mental functioning




Summary

• Theoretical integration• New constructs, models and nomological networks• New research methodologies (dynamic modeling)• New delivery mechanisms• New analytical techniques• New purposes• Contextualisation• Practical everyday uses• Ethical approach • Measurement of impact




Conclusion

The psychometrics paradigm thus needs to make way for something more:• comprehensive • relevant • dynamic• purposeful



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Discovering Talent and Potential

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