Table Of Content“Students… appreciate the short modules and the applied examples. Students
use the exercises and examples to make the concepts come to life.”
– Jennifer Kisamore, PhD
Praise for Previous Edition
“As someone who has frequently taught measurement courses, I am a firm
believer that student learning of the material is critically tied to being able to
apply the core techniques. This book provides tremendous opportunities for
application of fundamental measurement concepts and techniques in all key
aspects of the test development and validation process.”
– Ronald S. Landis, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA
“This is an excellent introduction to psychometrics with a strong hands-on
emphasis. The writing is clear and easy to follow. This is an invaluable resource
for students new to psychological and educational measurement as well as for
instructors looking for solid examples to use in their courses.”
– Adam Meade, North Carolina State University, USA
“This book offers a view of measurement and measurement practice that goes
beyond most books on measurement, which are so analytical that they might
well be called ‘Measurement theory inaction.’ Highly recommended for anyone
interested in views on measurement theory.”
– Michael James Zyphur, University of Melbourne, Australia
“I love the practical questions, case studies, and exercises. … The authors are
wonderful writers. ... It is accessible to undergraduates and … graduate students …
I will use it, and I will most definitely recommend it to everyone. ... Practitioners
wanting a refresher in measurement would find this valuable.”
– Lisa Finkelstein, Northern Illinois University, USA
“The target market for this book can be expanded beyond just psychology/education
students to include business management students. As someone who teaches research
methods to these students, I believe there is a dire need for such measurement texts. ...
I am more than happy to adopt it and recommend to my colleagues.”
– Debi P. Mishra, State University of New York at
Binghamton, USA
“It is a very easy book to pick up and read. … Half of the instructor’s battle ...
is simply getting the students to read the assigned material. Shultz and Whitney
[and Zickar] make it easy to win that battle. ... The students really seem to like
it. ... Some of [case studies] are ‘dead-on’ relevant to situations that my
students find themselves in. ... It’s a great text.”
– Dennis Devine, Indiana University–
Purdue University Indianapolis, USA
Measurement Theory
in Action
Measurement Theory in Action, Third Edition, helps readers apply testing and
measurement theories and features 22 self-contained modules which instructors
can match to their courses. Each module features an overview of a measurement
issue and a step-by-step application of that theory. Best Practices provide
recommendations for ensuring the appropriate application of the theory.
Practical Questions help students assess their understanding of the topic.
Students can apply the material using real data in the Exercises, some of which
require no computer access, while others involve the use of statistical software to
solve the problem. Case Studies in each module depict typical dilemmas faced
when applying measurement theory followed by Questions to Ponder to
encourage critical examination of the issues noted in the cases. The book’s
website houses the data sets, additional exercises, PowerPoints, and more. Other
features include suggested readings to further one’s understanding of the topics, a
glossary, and a comprehensive exercise in Appendix A that incorporates many of
the steps in the development of a measure of typical performance.
Updated throughout to reflect recent changes in the field, the new
edition also features:
• Recent changes in understanding measurement, with over 50 new and
updated references
• Explanations of why each chapter, article, or book in each module’s
Further Readings section is recommended
• Instructors will find suggested answers to the book’s questions and
exercises; detailed solutions to the exercises; test bank with 10 multiple
choice and 5 short answer questions for each module; and PowerPoint
slides. Students and instructors can access SPSS data sets; additional
exercises; the glossary; and additional information helpful in
understanding psychometric concepts.
It is ideal as a text for any psychometrics or testing and measurement
course taught in psychology, education, marketing, and management. It is
also an invaluable reference for professional researchers in need of a quick
refresher on applying measurement theory.
Kenneth S. Shultz is Professor of Psychology at California State University,
San Bernardino, USA. He teaches classes in I-O psychology, research
methods, psychological testing, and statistics. He has more than 55 peer-
reviewed articles, four books, and 15 book chapters. He was the recipient of
the 2014–2015 John M. Pfau Outstanding Professor Award at CSUSB.
David J. Whitney is Professor of Psychology at California State
University, Long Beach, USA. He teaches classes in I-O psychology,
psychological testing, introductory statistics, and Autism Spectrum
Disorder. With 25 peer-reviewed publications, he is among the most cited
researchers from his university.
Michael J. Zickar is Sandman Professor of Industrial-Organizational
Psychology at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA. He teaches
classes in I-O psychology, psychometrics, and the history of psychology. He
has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles. He is also a Fellow of
the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Measurement Theory
in Action
Case Studies and Exercises
Third Edition
Kenneth S. Shultz
David J. Whitney
Michael J. Zickar
Third edition published 2021
by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Taylor & Francis
The right of Kenneth S. Shultz, David J. Whitney, and Michael
J. Zickar to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by
them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Sage Publication 2005
Second edition published by Routledge 2014
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Shultz, Kenneth S., author. ǀ Whitney, David J., author. ǀ
Zickar, Michael J., author.
Title: Measurement theory in action : case studies and exercises /
Kenneth S. Shultz, David J. Whitney, Michael J. Zickar.
Description: Third Edition. ǀ New York : Routledge, 2021. ǀ Revised
edition of the authors’ Measurement theory in action, 2014. ǀ Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020031264 (print) ǀ LCCN 2020031265 (ebook) ǀ
ISBN 9780367192174 (hardback) ǀ ISBN 9780367192181 (paperback) ǀ
ISBN 9781003127536 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Psychometrics–Case studies. ǀ Psychometrics–
Problems, exercises, etc.
Classification: LCC BF39 .S55 2021 (print) ǀ LCC BF39 (ebook) ǀ
DDC 150.28/7–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020031264
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020031265
ISBN: 978-0-367-19217-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-19218-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-12753-6 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
Visit the eResources: https://www.routledge.com/9780367192181
Deborah A. Olson, Benjamin Olson Shultz, and Amanda
Lianne Shultz—KSS
Michelle, Cole, and Kieran Whitney—DJW
Rachel and Villette Zickar—MJZ
Contents
About the Authors xi
Preface xiii
PART I
Introduction 1
1 Introduction and Overview 3
2 Statistics Review for Psychological Measurement 15
3 Psychological Scaling 32
4 Test Preparation and Specification 45
PART II
Reliability, Validation, and Test Bias 57
5 Reliability Overview: Classical Test Theory 59
6 Estimating Reliability 70
7 Content Validation 85
8 Criterion-Related Validation 99
9 Construct Validation 116
10 Validity Generalization and Psychometric Meta-Analysis 129
11 Test Bias, Unfairness, and Equivalence 144
