The Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment (CPTA) held two meetings in 2014 in conjunction with the spring and fall APA Consolidated Meetings. The following report summarizes the major issues the Committee focused on over the past year.
APA Guideline and Policy Statement Development
Guidelines: Members of CPTA engaged in activities related to the revision of the Guidelines for Test User Qualifications. It is expected that these activities will continue through 2015.
Members of CPTA discussed plans for Committee supported outreach and educational efforts involving the newly published Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
Policy Statements: Members of the Committee continued development of policy initiatives related to quantitative psychology, test security, and psychological screening.
International Activities
The members of CPTA continued to monitor the activities of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), an international standards organization whose members include various countries from around the world. Specifically, the Committee reviewed activities related to the development of new ISO sponsored technical employment standards, and the establishment of certification programs for current ISO standards.
CPTA also continued to monitor the activities of the International Test Commission (ITC), particularly the ongoing revision of the ITC standards for internet testing.
Convention Session
CPTA sponsored a one-hour symposium at the 2014 APA convention in Washington, D.C. titled, “An Update on the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.” CPTA chair (and member of the Joint Committee for the Revision of the Standards), Dr. Nancy T. Tippins served as symposium chair. Panel participants included three other members of the Joint Committee, Drs. Linda Cooke, Antonio Puente, and Frank C. Worrell.
CPTA Collaborations
Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education (CPSE): CPTA continued its participation in the activities of the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education (CPSE). Dr. Robyn Hess was appointed as the new CPTA representative to group, and as such, attended both meetings of the group in 2014.
Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE): Former CPTA member, Dr. Beverly Vandiver represented APA at the fall 2014 meeting of the Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE).
Dr. Vandiver continued to participate in two on-going JCSEE sponsored projects, the revision of the Personnel Evaluation Standards (in Education) and the Program Evaluation Standards.
Policy Issues: CPTA continued to address a variety of assessment related policy issues in 2014. Most notably, members of the Committee provided support for APA’s advocacy efforts related to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); and continued to monitor relevant activities involving the multi-state adoption and implementation of the Common Core educational standards.
Committee Membership
In 2014, CPTA members included, Nancy T. Tippins, PhD, chair, Charlene Alexander, PhD, Winfred E. Arthur, Jr., PhD, Yosseph Ben-Porath, PhD, Desiree Byrd, PhD, Robyn S. Hess, PhD, Marc A. Norman, PhD, Abigail T. Panter, PhD, and Thanos Patelis, PhD.
Diversity continues to be represented in the membership of CPTA. In 2014, CPTA consisted of five females and four males. Four members are African-American, and five are white/Caucasian. At their fall 2014 meeting, the members of CPTA elected Dr. Winfred E. Arthur, Jr. as chair of the Committee for 2015.