Psychometrics

Written by R. Michael Furr and Verne R. Bacharach, this text introduces psychometrics, the science of measuring psychological traits. It focuses on core ideas such as validity and reliability, and it explains why measurement matters more than the step-by-step procedures used to carry it out. The authors aim for a level that goes further than a typical introductory testing course but stays more approachable than the technical texts used in graduate programs, relying on concepts rather than mathematical proofs.

The writing is clear and conversational, so readers without a specialist background can follow it. Practical examples show how measurement problems appear in real settings and why addressing them is worthwhile. Statistical methods are taught alongside the problems they solve rather than in a separate section, which helps readers see both the tools and their purpose. The content is presented as current, reflecting recent thinking on psychometric topics as found in non-technical literature.

The book is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in psychometrics, testing and measurement, research methods, and experimental methods. It serves students across the behavioral sciences and education.