Queen Mary University of London, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
Goldsmiths, University of London, Department of Psychology, London, SE14 6NW, United Kingdom.
Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 15;7(1):3618. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03586-z.
Modern psychometric theory provides many useful tools for ability testing, such as item response theory, computerised adaptive testing, and automatic item generation. However, these techniques have yet to be integrated into mainstream psychological practice. This is unfortunate, because modern psychometric techniques can bring many benefits, including sophisticated reliability measures, improved construct validity, avoidance of exposure effects, and improved efficiency. In the present research we therefore use these techniques to develop a new test of a well-studied psychological capacity: melodic discrimination, the ability to detect differences between melodies. We calibrate and validate this test in a series of studies. Studies 1 and 2 respectively calibrate and validate an initial test version, while Studies 3 and 4 calibrate and validate an updated test version incorporating additional easy items. The results support the new test's viability, with evidence for strong reliability and construct validity. We discuss how these modern psychometric techniques may also be profitably applied to other areas of music psychology and psychological science in general.
现代心理测量理论为能力测试提供了许多有用的工具，例如项目反应理论、计算机化自适应测试和自动项目生成。然而，这些技术尚未整合到主流的心理实践中。这很不幸，因为现代心理测量技术可以带来许多好处，包括复杂的可靠性度量、改进的结构有效性、避免暴露效应和提高效率。在本研究中，我们因此使用这些技术来开发一种新的测试，该测试针对的是一个经过充分研究的心理能力：旋律辨别能力，即检测旋律差异的能力。我们在一系列研究中对该测试进行了校准和验证。研究 1 和 2 分别校准和验证了初始测试版本，而研究 3 和 4 则校准和验证了包含更多简单项目的更新测试版本。结果支持了新测试的可行性，具有强可靠性和结构有效性的证据。我们讨论了这些现代心理测量技术如何也可以有益地应用于音乐心理学和一般心理科学的其他领域。
