Psychometry measures psychic processes.
The first step that must be taken in order to understand the meaning of the term psychometry is to proceed to determine its etymological origin. In this sense, we can say that it is a word that derives from Greek, since it is made up of the sum of several elements of said language:
-The noun “psyke”, which is synonymous with “soul”.
-The term “metron”, which is equivalent to “measurement”.
-The suffix “-ia”, which is used to indicate “quality”.
Hence, based on its composition, we can establish that, in general terms, psychometry can be translated as “measurement of different psychological facts.”
What is psychometrics
Psychometrics is the branch of psychology that is aimed at measuring psychological processes . For this, it develops studies that allow giving a figure to its results, making it possible to objectively compare the psychological characteristics of different people.
Specifically, we can say that psychometry is used to measure certain psychological aspects of a person such as their abilities, their knowledge, their state of opinion, the attitude they present, their personality traits and even their mental abilities.
Psychometrics is based on evaluations that allow values to be assigned to psychic attributes.
Measurement and valuation of psychic attributes
It can be said that, through psychometrics, a value is assigned to a psychic attribute of an individual, revealed through the evaluation in question. This number allows the specialist to make objective comparisons with other results and even with average values.
It is important to keep in mind that recording and measuring psychic issues is not easy, since they are characteristics that are not available to observation . Psychometrics, therefore, must first develop reliable evaluation methods to obtain accurate results and only then move on to the quantification of what could be discovered.
Divisions of psychometrics
In addition to everything stated so far, we have to make it known that psychometrics is usually divided into three large blocks or groups:
-Escalation. What this part of said scientific discipline does is shape, as well as develop, the different methods used to construct psychophysical or psychological scales.
-Measurement theory. This, on the other hand, is the area of psychometrics that revolves around the theoretical foundation of the aforementioned measurement.
-Test theory, which deals with the mathematical models and logic used to prepare and use the different tests.
Job evaluation
Psychometric studies are often used in the workplace . It is common for a company to invite applicants to a position for a psychometric evaluation to obtain reliable data about their intelligence , personality , etc. Based on the results and reports of the psychometrics, the company will be able to hire the suitable employee.
An important detail when understanding the concept of psychometrics is to understand that this methodological discipline works with the characteristics of a person, not with the person themselves. That is to say: quantification (the assignment of a numerical value) is applied to a psychic characteristic observed through an evaluation and not to the subject.