Every day more and more often we come across all kinds of tests. “Find out what kind of animal you are,” “Take the test and understand what hair color suits you,” “Who are you from Twilight? These tests are entertaining in nature. However, there are many serious ones.
Yes, there is still a classification of tests. As already mentioned, some entertain, while others may even reveal mental disorders that are invisible at first glance. What is the classification of test varieties? And in general, what is it? So, we have to figure out what the tests are, what are their main types, characteristics, as well as methods of application and their classification.
Test
First you need to introduce the concept of a test, we will find out the classification of tests later. So, the word test passed into the Russian lexicon from the English language, which means “test, verification” in translation . In a broad sense, this is a whole process that allows, when introducing changes in certain parameters (situations), to track any reactions to them. This refers, for example, to testing the engine or checking the knowledge of schoolchildren. Now we can proceed to the classification of tests, the definition is more or less disassembled.
By application
The classification of tests by field of application includes several points. It is necessary not only to conduct the testing itself, but also to correctly process the results. Those that are easier can be interpreted independently, but most often certain knowledge and skills are needed. Of course, the lion's share of tests falls on human testing: there are classifications of psychological tests, pedagogical, sociological ... These and other classifications will be discussed a little later, but for now, we highlight the main areas of application of this type of test, such as a test:
- Testing of any technical objects (systems).
- Testing in the field of programming.
- Math testing
- The test of man.
Now consider each area of application separately.
Technical Systems: Testing by Testing
The classification of tests in this application is not a huge list with many points. In this case, we are talking about only three main types of testing:
- Firstly, the test. Yes, a pretty generalized concept. Nevertheless, in the narrow sense, this is the study of the reaction of the studied research object to certain influences (controlled and provoking reactions to these effects) to determine the characteristics of the object. Chemical analysis, metallographic studies, measurements are examples of tests.
- Secondly, collision testing of cars (crash test) refers to the verification of technical systems. To explain in simple words, this is a way to study the ongoing changes in the car at various levels of damage to the vehicle as a result of a collision. The degree of breakdown is implied.
- Thirdly, testing by the method of physical modeling (computer). Yes, the classification of tests for technical systems includes such an item. In this case, a simplified model of the system is created, which includes the main parameters and allows you to explore the source object (prototype model).
Programming testing
Not only the technique requires verification using a method such as a test. The classification of software concepts includes a great many special terms denoting various types of functions performed. All of them, or rather the computer programs themselves, must be tested. These or those characteristics are subject to verification and the classification of tests of computer programs reflects:
- Software testing. In this case, the object of research is a virtual product that is tested for compliance with its real behavior during the work process and the intended one. Even the term "testing" has several interpretations in this area of use. And the classification of methods can be carried out according to several criteria.
- Beta testing. There are several opinions regarding the allocation of this species in a separate paragraph. Such testing can be attributed to a variety of software testing, without isolating the set from the set. However, beta testing can be considered an independent type of verification. In this case, the almost final version of the product, the finished program, is analyzed. The essence of the method is the use by volunteers of a preliminary version of the product in order to detect errors, malfunctions, and, accordingly, the subsequent elimination of identified defects in the finished product.
- Turing test, simplicity and UNIX test utility.
Application in mathematics
Not only computer programs and technical systems are subject to testing, numbers can also be subjected to such verification. It turns out there is a classification of tests in mathematics:
- Luke-Lemer;
- Pepina;
- Miller (number theory);
- Miller-Rabin;
- diehard tests ("Monkeys").
All are designed for numbers. In addition to the latter on the list, are prime tests. As you know, mathematics is a fundamental, but very complex science. It is often very difficult to understand not so much in calculations as in ornate definitions and difficult to understand terms. Therefore, delving into the definitions should not be in the submitted article.
Human Testing Methods
Of course, most tests are designed for human research. Not only are the psychotypes of people determined, the classification of tests aimed at studying a person includes a large number of points, and not only by scope, but also by the method of testing.
Since this issue in the classification of test research objects is very extensive and interesting, it is advisable to highlight the scope. So, next we will talk about testing a person. Moreover, in the physiological sense, and not just for the analysis of mental activity, a test is used. The classification of methods is also very extensive. Therefore, it is worth understanding such a complex system.
Types of medical tests
In medicine, testing in most cases is used to detect any diseases: glucose tolerance test, HIV, hepatitis, allergies, hemocode, sexually transmitted diseases.
The glucose tolerance test is not only for the detection of diabetes. There is a special term - prediabetes. It is not difficult to guess by the name that this is the state of a person preceding this ailment. Both diabetes and prediabetes are detected through a glucose tolerance test.
To date, there is no single methodology for determining sexually transmitted diseases. It is not known whether this is good or bad, but either blood or urethral biomaterial must be donated to identify them.
The hemocode test is used to determine contraindicated foods based on the identification of deficiency of enzymes that allow you to digest this or that food.
However, not only diseases are detected using tests: pregnancy can also be detected in a similar way. It is no secret to anyone that the object of the study is urine, into which it is necessary to lower the test strip. Or you can urinate directly on her.
A paternity test, a DNA test, allows you to determine the degree of relationship. Not necessarily paternity is established using this test. And they use not only blood, but also saliva, hair, skin particles, and other biomaterials.
There are tests to detect alcohol and / or drugs in the human body. The analyzed material is blood, urine, hair. In the case of alcohol, a breath test is used - the determination of the alcohol content in the exhaled air. And you can find drugs even in saliva and sweat.
Tests in pedagogy
As everyone knows, testing is often used to test the knowledge of students (not necessarily schoolchildren, there are other educational institutions). It would seem that in itself it is called in this case to reveal the level of knowledge. However, the classification of pedagogical tests includes several points:
- By purpose. There is information testing, diagnostic, training, motivational, certification.
- According to the procedure. This paragraph includes two subparagraphs - standardized and, accordingly, non-standardized.
- On the formation of tasks: deterministic, stochastic, dynamic. That is, subject to certain algorithms, spontaneous (random, without an algorithm for solving), requiring a response through pre-completed tasks.
- According to the technology, the tests can be "paper" (that is, on paper, the answer is provided in the same way) and using any special equipment (for example, on a computer, tablet, etc.).
- According to the form of tasks - open and closed type, to indicate compliance and determine the sequence.
- According to the presence of feedback, there are two types of tests - traditional and adaptive. The former consist of successive assignments, the latter are built on the basis of answers, that is, each subsequent question is determined by the answer to the previous one. Adaptive testing is computer based.
Classification of pedagogical tests includes a lot of points. These tests play a significant role in people's lives: a single state exam in Russia and a single national test in Kazakhstan, the GMAT (English Graduate Management Admission Test) - a global test to identify abilities when studying at business schools, to obtain a driver’s license. As you can see, there are many examples, so it becomes obvious that pedagogical testing does not occupy the last place in the fate of a person: from the opportunity to enter the desired university to the elementary driving of your favorite type of transport.
Psychotypes of people: classification, tests
One of the most extensive applications of testing is psychology. In the professional sphere, they are called upon to find out information about the person, to determine not only the emotional state in which the person is at the moment, but also the whole temperament, level of emotionality, and mental state.
Of course, not one test can determine everything at once. There are many options for different authors studying psychology for more than one day. We can distinguish several criteria by which psychological tests should be classified, but they, in turn, include several subitems. So, let's begin.
Classification of tests by form:
- oral and written: it means whether you will answer questions in writing or is it enough to voice your answers to your interviewer (the person who asks the question);
- individual and group: it is not necessary to test one person, you can determine any indicators for a group of people as a whole;
- hardware and blank: hardware testing involves the use of special technical devices not only for the test itself, but also for recording answers;
- subject and computer: the former involve the use of any real objects, or rather, the task itself includes, for example, cubes.
- non-verbal and verbal: the first are tasks in the form of images, drawings, pictures, that is, visual.
The content of the tests can be divided into categories:
- On the study of intelligence. This type of test is the most common and in demand in psychology.
- Learning talents. It is generally applicable to divide abilities into general (mental) and special (talent for certain types of activities).
- Tests of achievements and individual personality characteristics. The first allows you to evaluate the knowledge, skills, skills of the subject. Personality tests reveal behavioral patterns in various situations, and also help to evaluate the emotional-volitional components of the psyche.
According to the purposes of testing, psychological tests are divided into several categories:
- For self-knowledge - they are not scientific in nature, these tests are simple and have a small volume.
- For diagnosis - they are strict in nature, conducted and processed exclusively by specialists.
- For examination - usually carried out at the request of some officials (testing employees, both future and already working).
In terms of time constraints, inspections may take into account speed of execution and effectiveness; according to the methodological principle - objective and standardized self-report.
Thus, it becomes clear that there are a great many psychological tests, and some of them each person can take independently for the purpose of introspection, self-knowledge.
Sociology and Testing
To begin with, it’s worth understanding what sociology is, so that no questions arise in the future. So, this is a science that studies the society as a whole, the systems of which it consists, their development, the relationships between individuals inside and outside it, etc. In short, the science of society.
Since sociology is aimed at studying society, scientists need to be able to apply research methods to this very association of people, among which testing occupies a special place. All tests that are used in psychology can be safely attributed to sociology, including group ones. Methods used are:
- questionnaire (that is, a list of questions is proposed in which it is necessary to give either a monosyllabic answer - "yes" or "no", or a detailed, but not voluminous);
- polls (includes questionnaires in the narrow sense; a distinctive feature is mass, that is, a large number of respondents);
- conversation (the interviewer asks questions that allow you to study the point of view, mood, views and obtain other data about the respondent, moreover, this method is more like a conversation than a test in the traditional sense of the word).
Thus, testing plays a crucial role in the study of society.