Explain the difference between comparative decisions and absolute decisions. Provide examples not already referenced in the chapter that relate to psychological testing.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• While comparative decisions are made by comparing the test scores of a number of people to see who has the best score, absolute decisions are decisions made by others (institutions) by looking at who has the minimum score needed to qualify.
• Examples in the chapter of comparative decisions (which should not be referenced by students) include the following;
o For example, imagine you applied to and were accepted into the law school of your choice. Now imagine that the law school is going to offer an academic scholarship to only one individual who was offered admission. Based on interviews and letters of recommendation, you advance as one of four finalists for the scholarship. Who will get the scholarship now depends on LSAT scores. Because you scored higher than the other three finalists, you receive the scholar- ship. This is a comparative decision because all of the finalists’ LSAT scores were compared, and the individual with the highest score was selected.
o Or perhaps you applied for a job at an organization where psychological tests were used as part of the selection process. If, after you took these tests, the organization decided to continue to consider your application because you scored better than 75% of the other applicants, the organization would be using the test results to make decisions using a comparative method.
• Examples in the chapter of absolute decisions (which should not be referenced by students) include the following;
o For example, let us consider the same scholarship example, with you advancing as one of four finalists for the scholarship. However, this time the school offers the scholar- ship to any finalist who has a score of at least 160 (where the minimum score is 120 and the maximum score is 180).
o Or suppose the organization to which you applied for a job called and informed you that the managers would like you to come in for an interview because you scored at least 50 on one of the tests that were administered. In each of these cases, the institution made a decision about you not by comparing your score with the scores of other test takers but rather by basing its decision on some minimum score.