3. The Testing Environment
• “Quiet”
• Adequate lighting and Ventilation
• Provide an enclosed, professional environment that is
clean, comfortable, smoke-free and conducive to testing.
• Only one workstation should be placed on each four feet
(1.2 meter) of space
Source : Pearson Quality Testing Centers
4. Exam Directions
• This test consists of four kinds of questions.
• For each of the four pages of test questions you
are to mark your answers in the appropriate box
in the answer column down the right hand side
of each page
• You should make a Heavy X for each answer
5. Key Proponent
Louis Leon Thurstone
• (May 29, 1887 – September 30, 1955)
• US pioneer in the fields of
psychometrics and psychophysics
• Masters in Mechanical Engineering
Brief Assistantship in the laboratory of Thomas Edison
• Graduate Studies in Psychology-University of Chicago
6. Four Job-Related Tasks
assessed by the TMA Test
• Adjusting to New Situations
• Learning New skills Quickly
• Understanding Complex or
Subtle Relationships
• Thinking Flexibly
7. Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
IPAT Culture Fair
“Alternative Tests”
8. “Answers”
Three Scores are derived from the test items
• L Score of Linguistic or Verbal Ability
• Q Score of Quantitative Ability
• Total Score is the sum of L Score and the
Q Score
9. “Scale”
Score Equivalent
74 – 78 Very Superior
63 – 73 Superior
55 – 62 Above Average
50 – 54 High Average
30 – 49 Average
22 – 29 Low Average
10 – 21 Below Average
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Ipat Culture Fair
Research shows a strong relationship between general mental ability
and various work related outcomes. In addition to often being the
strongest predictor of individual job performance, the TMA can help
reduce overall turnover by helping to improve the effectiveness of hiring
and placement decisions. The test can also help reduce supervisory
and training time for employees in new positions and help increase
overall profitability as a workforce with higher levels of cognitive ability
acquires new information more easily and more quickly and is able to
use information more effectively.
Features
_ The TMA assessment’s scores were correlated with job performance
in various organizations for 10 functions, including management and
non-management positions
_ The test offers two comparable versions (A and B), which can be
used to test applicants
_ Easy to administer, the test requires only 20 minutes to complete
Administration and Scoring Options
ScoresThree scores are derived from the test items: The Same-Opposite and Definition items produce an L score of Linguistic or Verbal ability. The Arithmetic and Number Series items produce a Q score of Quantitative Ability. The Total Score is the sum of the L score and the Q score. A high Total Score reflects the ability to respond correctly and quickly to the two types of items - verbal items and quantitative items. Alternating verbal items with quantitative items requires a mental shift. The rapidity with which an individual can respond to a series of alternating L and Q items can indicate how rapidly s/he is able to adapt to different situations.
Scales and Norms
Three scores are derived from four types of test items. There are
scores for quantitative (Q) and linguistic (L) ability and a total score.
The total score is the sum of the Q score and the L score.
_ Quantitative: measured by Arithmetic and Number Series problems
_ Linguistic: measured by Same-Opposite word meanings and
Definitions items
Percentile norms are listed for both subscores and the total score for
the total sample.
Use of NormsScores on the TMA test can be interpreted by converting them to percentiles using norm tables. These tables are generated from scores of North American test takers and are intended to serve as a general guides until The JobBank develops local norms.
The effectiveness of tests may vary from situation to situation. Factors such as talent available in the local labour market, job requirements within a specific company, etc. may affect score ranges. Other factors such as education, experience and motivation are also important determinants of job success.
No standard score can accurately predict job performance in every situation and so it is recommended that these norms not be accepted as specific test score limits that positively designate individuals who will succeed in a given job. The JobBank will assist employers who use the TMA test to determine their own approximate score levels that can help identify effective job performance based on the cumulative experience with the test.
Percentile norms are listed by the two sub scores (quantitative and linguistic) and the total score for the following job classifications:• Manager • Bank and insurance manager • Human resource manager • Sales manager • Supervisor • Computer programmer • Sales representative • General clerical • College student • Unskilled/skilled • Cosmetology student • Accounting • Customer service • Chief financial officer • Marketing • Company president Validation studies have been conducted and scores were correlated with job performance in various companies for the following jobs:• Assistant manager • Bank teller • Clerical worker • Computer operator • Computer programmer • Manager (retail store) • Salesperson (retail store) • Sales representative • Sales supervisor • Supervisor (insurance)
** Criticisms
Western Subjects
- Subjects were white north American men
Culture Differences
-
Discrimination on acquired knowledge