Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Test
The Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (APS) is a personality test developed to assess depression or psychological problems in adolescents. William M. Reynolds developed this test to distinguish the severity and variability of the symptoms of boredom depending on various factors associated with the personality of the individual being studied. The guidelines for this test indicate that it contains 346 questions that the test person must solve in approximately one hour (Konold, 2001).
The test uses a multiple-response format that includes different variations of positive and negative responses and scales with numbers depending on the degree of agreement with the statement. Such response options allow for a more accurate determination of the degree of any problem in the test person’s current situation (Piersel, 2001). The responses are entered into a computer program for comparison with multiple responses from different groups.
The Normative Sample included 1827 participants aged 12 to 19. Sampling parameters for various parameters such as age, gender, or ethnicity were met for the standardization sample. In addition, there was also a clinical sample of 506 participants (Konold, 2001). Both samples had to be sufficiently uniform in terms of diversity to meet the criteria for objectivity and provide accurate study results.
However, according to Piersel (2001), one of the samples was incorrect and did not meet the given standards because diversity was not respected. One ethical group significantly outweighed the other, which made the test incorrect and could significantly affect the final result. In addition, only two ethnic groups were present, and no demographic data was available. It is worth using a commonly approved sample for standardization to avoid such omissions.
The Adolescent Psychopathology Scale is conducted with a pencil, and the participant must fill out a form with questions and answer options. These tests do not restrict how they should be carried out, individually or during a group seminar. As mentioned above, to obtain results, the passed test can be entered into a computer to speed up the processing process. There are no limiting factors regarding who can administer and take the test. However, its author has stated that it is only for teenagers. Considering all factors and testing parameters, it received a rating of 0.80 for retest reliability.This confirms that this test is valid for detecting distress syndrome in adolescents from 12 to 19 years of age.
Justification for Selecting the Test
This test was chosen because the problem of studying depressive and anxiety disorders in adolescents is a rather acute social issue. The younger generation must be cured of such psychological suffering to live a whole social life. That is why the chosen test is essential; it helps identify symptoms to start treatment on time (Kumari & Jahan, 2022). Moreover, the test is compared with current activities and plans for the future, as it will be related to working with adolescents with mental problems.
The Adolescent Psychopathology Scale aligns with the goals and responsibilities of church leaders as it will help more people discover the cause of their psychological problems. James 2:18-19 says, “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show meyour faith without deeds, and I will show youmy faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God “Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001). This means that faith is as important as actions, and they determine how much a person is ready to help others who need it. With the help of this test, it is possible to help teenagers cope with their illnesses and improve their lives.
References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. Web.
Konold, T. R. (2001). Test review of the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (APS). In B. S. Plake & J. C. Impara (Eds.), The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook. Retrieved from the Buros Institute’s Mental Measurements Yearbook online database.
Kumari, S., & Jahan, M. (2022). Prevalence Of Psychopathology Among School Adolescents. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(8), 2498-2507. Web.
Piersel, W. C. (2001). Test review of the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (APS). In B. S. Plake & J. C. Impara (Eds.), The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook. Retrieved from the Buros Institute’s Mental Measurements Yearbook online database.