Steps in Constructing a Psychometric Assessment Instrument

This chapter summarises steps that are following in the psychometric process for establishing the validity of a test for making predictions in a legal context. Steps used in psychometric analyses are summarised both as a reminder for psychologists, and to assist lawyers to understand the full process that is required before an instrument is viewed by scientists as producing valid predictions. It is acknowledged that few instruments have passed all of the steps expected in a full psychometric analysis, and that many instruments are still in a developmental stage.