The Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment (CPTA) held two meetings in 2015 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 continued their engagement in activities related to the development of guidelines for test user qualifications. Most notably, members of the committee finalized a statement on competencies for users of psychological tests. In 2016, it is anticipated that representatives of the committee will participate in a joint task force with representative of the practice community to revise the Guidelines forTest User Qualifications.
Members of CPTA continued to monitor activities related to organizationally sponsored outreach and educational efforts involving the newly published (2014) Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
Policy Statements: Members of the committee continued participation in the development of policy initiatives related to quantitative psychology and psychological screening.
Educational Initiatives
Members of CPTA completed work on an informational document focused on issues related to test security. It is anticipated that the document will be submitted for publication in 2016.
International Activities
The members of CPTA continued to monitor the activities of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Test Commission (ITC).
The ISO is an international standards organization whose members include various countries from around the world. In 2015, members of the committee reviewed activities related to the development of ISO sponsored technical employment standards, and the establishment of certification programs for current ISO standards.
The APA is an organizational member of the ITC, and CPTA monitors the activities of the group for the association. Former CPTA member, Dr. Kurt Geisinger is the current APA representative to the ITC, and as such, he represents APA at the bi-annual meetings of the ITC. ITC activities of particular interest to CPTA included the ongoing revision of the ITC standards for internet testing, and the development of ITC sponsored certification programs.
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 is the CPTA representative to group, and as such, attended both meetings of the group in 2015.
Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE): Dr. Jennifer Merriman was appointed to serve as the new APA/CPTA representative to the Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, (JCSEE). Merriman replaced Dr. Beverly Vandiver, whose term as representative to the group ended in 2014. As the APA/CPTA representative to JCSEE, Merriman attended one face to face, and one virtual, meeting of the group in 2015. She also continues 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 2015. 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) which is now the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Members of the committee also continued to monitor relevant activities involving the multi-state adoption and implementation of the Common Core educational standards.
Committee Membership
In 2015, CPTA members included, Winfred E. Arthur, Jr., PhD, chair, Yosseph Ben-Porath, PhD, Desiree Byrd, PhD, Robyn S. Hess, PhD, Abigail T. Panter, PhD, Thanos Patelis, PhD, Ann Marie Ryan, PhD, Lisa D. Stanford, PhD, and Susan Whiston, PhD.
Diversity continues to be represented in the membership of CPTA. In 2015, CPTA consisted of six females and three males. Two members are African-American, and seven are white/Caucasian. At their fall 2015 meeting, the members of CPTA elected Patelis as chair of the committee for 2016.