THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MEASUREMENT IN PSYCHOLOGY (2010/2011)

Learning outcomes

All fields of science use mathematics as a tool for measurement. However, this tool does not stand alone but is rather an intrinsic part of the body of knowledge regarding the disciplines which make use of it. Since Psychophysics was first established as a discipline up to now, psychologists have adapted mathematics and statistics for the experimental requirements related to the study of cognitive functions. The aim of this course is to provide students with some basic notions regarding the foundations of measurement of psychological attributes. The course will teach students to recognise some critical steps associated with changes in paradigms of measurement used in psychological theories and to understand that methods and psychometric instruments used for measuring can and must be adapted according to requirements.

The course will deal with some of the more basic aspects of research into the fundamental aspects of measurements in Psychology. In particular, the course will focus on the issue regarding whether psychological attributes inherently possess quantitative characteristics. In order to answer this question, one needs to touch upon the necessary conditions for Psychology to be acknowledged as quantitative science, starting from a definition of the term measurement, then moving on to the control of disturbance in measurements and the “objection of quantity” as formulated by John Stuart Mill (1843/1974, pp. 379–387).

The exam will be oral. It will consists of evaluations of
a) a study of the following article (which can be downloaded from http://www.ephplab.eu/page.php?8 ):

Trendler G. (2009) Measurement Theory, Psychology and the Revolution That Cannot Happen. Theory Psychology, 19: 579-599.

b) an essay which goes more deeply into some of the issues discussed by Trendler G. (2009), using the references reported in the article. Students can access these references using the online databases of the University of Verona. The essay must demonstrate independent study and rigor in dealing with the contents addressed. The length of the work (in terms of the number of pages) will not be a criterion in the evaluation of the quality of the work.
Notes: Although not obligatory, students may participate in a discussion forum (http://www.ephplab.eu/page.php?8). To join the forum, students must log in inserting their last name, a password and a photo of themselves. Students can participate in the discussion by inserting new topics of discussion and/or replying to those put forward by other participants. Participation in the forum will contribute towards the final mark of the exam.