Smart Risks, Big Pay-offs

I celebrated a financial win for one of my clients yesterday. It was a win that was months in the making. As I considered the path we took to get here, one theme came to mind: big pay-offs don't just happen in psychometrics. They take vision, smart planning, clear communication, and a team of competent people who are willing to execute that vision with excellence. Let me give you a little background. Last year my client was challenged with reducing scoring costs for a maturing large-scale portfolio assessment. Anyone who works in psychometrics and with performance-based assessments, particularly those that require human judgment, understands that there are no clearance racks here. It's plain ol' expensive to train and employ people to score complex tasks without bias and in a way that is consistent with scoring guidelines. Let's not mention the price tag that goes along with the systems that support scoring (e.g., software development, master coding, training build). Did I say this is expensive? So, my client and I were tasked with finding creative ways to reduce costs while at least maintaining the quality of the score outcomes. We had to put on our Supergirl capes. Tenet 1 of big pay-offs: Do [...]

By |2017-02-21T16:47:38+00:00February 21, 2017|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Smart Risks, Big Pay-offs

A “Psychome…” who?

psy·cho·me·tri·cian \-mə-ˈtri-shən\ "I measure psychological constructs." Okay... "I measure things about people that are latent" [Insert hand motions]. Okay..."I work on standardized tests...in education." Describing what I do for a living to family and friends can be challenging. The blank stares and gentle nods sometimes reduces my spiel to, "I measure stuff." That really doesn't capture the importance of the work people like me engage in every day. So, give me a few minutes to explain. Let's start with an example that we all can wrap our heads around: a doctor's visit. When you pay a visit to your doctor's office, your vital signs are usually the first to be measured: weight, height, blood pressure, and temperature. Now, consider the instruments used to take your vitals - a scale for weight and a thermometer for temperature, for example. Each instrument had to be designed specifically for its corresponding vital sign. Ever tried weighing yourself with a blood pressure cuff? Probably not. Your body's response to these instruments gives the physician a picture of your general health. The exam isn't limited to what can be measured with a physical instrument, though. Your doctor may ask questions to explore factors that influence [...]

By |2017-02-14T02:49:53+00:00February 14, 2017|Uncategorized|Comments Off on A “Psychome…” who?
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