When creating or interpreting a test, it is important to consider to whom you will compare your examinees. What is the appropriate population for creating norms? For example, as people age, they tend to get lower scores on tasks requiring speed. Does it make more sense to use age-related norms or should the examinees be assigned a percentile that reflects their performance relative to the general population? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. If the test is to be used to detect the possibility of brain disease, then one would want to score relative to age norms to prevent false positives in older test-takers. If the test is to be used to evaluate whether one can safely operate a machine requiring quick reaction times, then one would use general norms.

To prepare for this Discussion, consider the use of norms when making decisions about individuals in organizations.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 an explanation of how norms can be used in test scoring and interpretation to make decisions about individuals in organizations. Then explain pros and cons of using group-level norms in test interpretation. Support your response with references to the current literature. APA format.