Psychometrics

An Introduction

In this fully revised Fourth Edition of Psychometrics: An Introduction, author R. Michael Furr centers his presentation around a conceptual understanding of psychometric core issues, such as scales, reliability, and validity. Focusing on purpose rather than procedure and the “why” rather than the “how to," this accessible book uses a wide variety of examples from behavioral science research so readers can see the importance of psychometric fundamentals in research. By emphasizing concepts, logic, and practical applications over mathematical proofs, this book gives students an appreciation of how measurement problems can be addressed and why it is important to address them. The book offers readers the most contemporary views of topics in psychometrics available in the nontechnical psychometric literature.

New to this edition:

• Technical appendices in R at the end of most chapters help students apply concepts in a free and powerful software program.
• Dataset and syntax files in R help students apply and practice the concepts they learn.
• Expanded figures and tables (more than twice as many as the previous edition) present information in condensed and visual formats for increased understanding.
• Additional coverage of fundamental statistics and concepts ensures readers start each chapter with the appropriate context and background.
• Expanded depth and breadth of coverage of key issues in psychometrics, including summaries of relevant statistical packages, introduces readers to a wide range of important concepts, principles, and procedures.
• Enhanced clarity and accessibility helps students understand and appreciate the diverse and often highly technical material in psychometric theory.