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Mobile Assessment
Mobile assessment involves the administration of tests and collection of responses via a mobile device. Mobile devices have been used for research purposes since the early 1990s, though field applications were relatively rare until recently because of limited functionality. The emergence of wireless technology, smaller handheld devices, faster microprocessors, and larger high-resolution displays, which could be integrated into consumer-friendly devices, has led to an explosion of assessment applications in education, health, and workplace settings. The National Institute of Health first funded initial large-scale efforts to create mobile assessments in 2005.
How It Works
Mobile devices are well suited for researchers and test authors who are interested in more extensive sampling and large-scale data collection projects that can be conducted anywhere in the county. Considerable resources have been expended on PsychTech to create a secure platform that delivers reliable and efficient testing via a mobile application. Engineers have designed its application to run remotely, without internet or cellular connections, making testing possible and convenient wherever an examiner may want to go. Using the PsychTech application, data is collected via a mobile device, where it is stored temporarily and then uploaded to a centralized platform at a later time when an internet connection is available.
Steps to Perform Individualized Testing
First, users create subject profiles online and assign tests based on predetermined needs. The assigned tests are downloaded to the mobile device, where they remain available for the examination whenever scheduled. During the examination, users open the mobile application to administer assigned tests to selected subjects wherever they are located. During testing, users enter objective responses directly into the app or note open-ended responses on paper for later entry during online scoring. The Psychtech application stores subject data on the mobile device during collection as test administration progresses. It later uploads response data when an internet connection is available. Users log into the secure web-based platform, select the testing, edit subject responses as needed, and finalize the test protocol for scoring. Once protocols are verified as accurate and complete, users can then create and print out individual test records.
