Test Usage and Quality Awareness among Norwegian Psychologists: The EFPA Test Use Survey 2020

Introduction: We report results from the Norwegian segment of the European Federation for Psychologists’ Associations’ (EFPA) 2020 decennial survey of psychologists’ attitudes towards tests and test use. Previous surveys have shown that psychologists have positive attitudes towards testing and are concerned about the quality of tests and assessment practice. Methods: We analysed the responses of 1,523 Norwegian Psychologists’ Association members to a 32-item online questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale (20% response rate). We compared the results with the 2017 test use survey using descriptive analyses, and we performed a confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The results show that the respondents were generally satisfied with student training and valued tests as a source of information; however, they were unsatisfied with information about test quality. The regulation of tests and test use was a major concern, both regarding general regulatory frameworks and restrictions on test use depending on test user qualifications. The survey indicated that cognitive measures were the most widespread, although the respondents listed a wide variety of tests they were using. Conclusions: Our results confirm findings from earlier studies that psychologists are positive towards testing but have clear concerns about both quality and test regulation. They request more information regarding test quality and express that test use should be regulated based on test user competence. Keywords: testing, test use, psychological assessment, personality assessment, clinical assessment