Vienna Test System

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The Vienna Test System (WTS) is a test system for computer-aided psychological diagnostics . The WTS makes it possible to carry out psychological processes on the computer as well as to evaluate them automatically and comprehensively. This primarily saves time and money compared to the manual evaluation of paper-pencil tests. In addition to classic questionnaires, the system also includes procedures that can only be carried out precisely on a computer (time-sensitive test specification, multimedia presentation, adaptive tests , psychomotor skills, practice-oriented compilations of tests (so-called test sets), differentiated evaluation of individual reactions, e.g. according to reaction times, etc. .).

history

The first developments go back to the 1970s and were based on experience in the field of apparatus diagnostics that was gained in the company founded by Felix Schuhfried in 1947. An important branch of apparatus diagnostics in psychology were devices for measuring short and very short stimulus presentations and reaction times, e.g. B. Tachistoscopes for perception and attention examinations .

Schuhfried was one of the first to recognize that computers could replace the very expensive electromechanical instruments. At the beginning of the 1980s, the Vienna Test System was therefore created, which was initially based on its own hardware and operating system components, primarily to ensure real-time control and measurement. Electromechanical devices were controlled by computer - individual tests required a control module and a special test subject interface for presenting stimuli and entering responses.

The following devices, which were used in applied psychology, were developed by Schuhfried:

  • DT: Viennese determination device (complex reaction tests).
  • MLS: Motor performance series according to Schoppe (fine motor skills)
  • RT: Vienna reaction device (simple reaction tests).
  • ART 90: Act and react test system (seven sub-tests for fitness to drive diagnostics)

Standardized test subject consoles with additional visual and acoustic stimulus presentations and several answer buttons (also numeric) as well as pedals supplemented and replaced the individual devices at that time. The performance shifted more to the screen. In 1986 the first Vienna test system was presented, which for the first time uses a personal computer as hardware. For many years the WTS was the only available system in this area that reached professional maturity. Little by little, other systems and the internet-based psychodiagnostics, which are now widely used, were established, which contributed to a strong diversification.

Today's Vienna Test System

In 2013, a new test system was presented which, compared to its predecessor versions, brings some innovations and improvements. There are four requirement-specific specialist versions for use in personnel , neuro , sports and traffic psychology . Using interface interaction, the new WTS can be integrated into existing workflows and computer programs, such as in applicant management systems or in the IT environment of clinics. Numerous psychological test procedures can be tested directly online without installing any software. This option is particularly suitable for tests in which there is a spatial distance between the test leader and the test person.

Testing

Today there are more than 120 methods available for recording intelligence, cognitive performance, executive functions, attention, memory, personality, self-assessment as well as clinical methods, which are validated and standardized and partly developed in cooperation with various university institutes. Around 13 million tests are now carried out annually in more than 68 countries and 30 languages ​​using the Vienna Test System. Here is a short excerpt of tests that are typically done on the computer.

Screenshot determination test
  • DT : The determination test (DT) is a precise measurement method for recording reactive stress tolerance and the associated responsiveness. Color stimuli and acoustic signals are given to the test person. The reaction takes place by pressing the corresponding keys on the test subject's keyboard.
  • RT : The reaction test (RT) enables a precise measurement of the motor speed as well as the reaction speed. When relevant stimuli appear, the test person should press a given key on the test subject's keyboard.
  • INSBAT : The Intelligence Structure Battery (INSBAT) is a modular, theory-based constructed intelligence test battery and is used for the fair and economic assessment of job-relevant skills. The INSBAT is based on the hierarchical intelligence model of Cattell-Horn-Carroll. (Carroll, 1993; Horn, 1989; Horn & Noll, 1997)
  • TOL-F : The Tower of London - Freiburg Version (TOL-F) is a computerized and, in the German-speaking area, comprehensively standardized method for recording planning ability in healthy people as well as neurological and psychiatric patients. The planning test is based on the Hanoi Tower, which was further developed by neurologist Tim Shallice.
Screenshot Tower of London
  • WRBTV : The Vienna Risk Readiness Test for Traffic (WRBTV) is an objective personality test to determine the willingness to take risks in traffic situations . The WRBTV is based on the theory of risk homeostasis by the Canadian psychologist GJS Wilde
  • FGT : The figural memory test (FGT) is a procedure for the language-independent recording of figural learning performance and figural episodic memory. FGT is suitable for use in healthy as well as psychiatric and neurological patients
  • OLMT : The Objective Achievement Motivation Test (OLMT) is a computer-aided, objective and behavior-oriented personality test to measure achievement motivation . The OLMT provides information about the effort involved in processing tasks under different important boundary conditions.

Special areas of application

In addition to the use of the WTS in neuropsychology and in the area of ​​personnel selection, personnel development and career counseling, there are also tests or test sets for special areas of application:

Early detection of dementia

The World Alzheimer Report 2015 forecast 9.9 million new cases of dementia per year. This means, on average, another person every 3.2 seconds who receives this diagnosis. Since dementia cannot be cured, but can only be slowed down over time, early detection of the symptoms is particularly important. The classification system DSM-5 defines special diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders in this area, which are recorded by the test set CFD - Cognitive Functions Dementia . Attention, verbal long-term memory, executive functions, expressive language and perceptual-motor functions are checked by means of a touchscreen and summarized in a global CFD index.

Traffic psychology

Schuhfried has been dealing with traffic psychological diagnostics since the early 1960s and has been the market leader in this field since the beginning. Already in 1980 the cooperation with the Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit begins with the aim of further developing traffic psychology and thus traffic safety. The ART 90, a computer-controlled test station, is completed. This becomes the standard in traffic psychology. Since fitness to drive is a very complex question that cannot be adequately determined with a single test, a traffic psychological test battery was completed in 1996, which replaces the ART 90. With the help of this test battery, several traffic-relevant performance and personality factors such as responsiveness, stress tolerance, peripheral perception, willingness to take risks, aggressiveness, etc. can be measured.

Aviation

In aviation, too, computer-aided diagnostics have proven to be an indispensable instrument not only for the selection, but also for the regular testing of the fitness of pilots in civil and military aviation. In order to respond to the specific requirements of aviation, a special test set ( SAAIR Safety Assessment Flight ) was developed, which checks criteria relevant to flight psychology such as resilience, memory, spatial ideas or psychomotor coordination.

competitive sport

Successful competitive sport requires not only well-developed physiological but also strong psychological performance components. Questions about the role of perception, concentration, decision-making ability, emotions and social interaction in the achievement of athletic performance can be answered using computer-aided psychological diagnostics. In combination with other tools such as exploration and discussion guides, the information obtained in this way contributes to decision-making. As a result, sports psychology can make an enormous contribution to professionalism and quality in competitive sports .

Awards

The Schuhfried company has had the Austrian national coat of arms since 2000 . This award is given to companies that demonstrate a high export quota, first-class creditworthiness, innovative strength, quality management and a high research and development quota.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Company - SCHUHFRIED. Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b Paulitsch, C .: Psychological Apparatus , Volume 2, Universitätsverlag Passau, 2006.
  3. ↑ a b Paulitsch, C .: Psychological Apparatus , Volume 3, Universitätsverlag Passau, 2008
  4. ↑ a b SCHUHFRIED company history
  5. ↑ Fisseni, H.-J. (1990). Textbook of Psychological Diagnostics. Göttingen: Hogrefe. P. 272
  6. ↑ Hageböck, J. (1994). Computer-aided diagnostics in psychology. Göttingen: Hogrefe, p. 34 ff.
  7. ↑ Schuhfried in figures
  8. ↑ Neuwirth, W., Benesch, M .: Manual Determination Test, test author: Schuhfried, G., Mödling, 1986 ( information on the test )
  9. ↑ Prieler, J .: Manual reaction test, test author: Schuhfried, G. Mödling, 1996 ( information on the test )
  10. ↑ Arendasy, M., et al .: Manual Intelligence-Structure-Battery , test authors: Arendasy, M. et al., Mödling, 2004 ( information on the test )
  11. ↑ Kaller, CP et al .: Manual Tower of London - Freiburg version , test authors: Kaller, CP et al., Mödling, 2011 ( information on the test )
  12. ↑ Hergovich, A. et al .: Manual Vienna Risk Readiness Test Verkehr , test authors: Hergovich, A et al., Mödling, 2005 ( information on the test )
  13. ↑ Vetter, J. et al .: Manual Figural Memory Test, test authors: Vetter, J. et al., Mödling 2012 ( information on the test )
  14. ↑ Schmidt-Atzert, L .: Manual Objective Achievement Motivation Test, test author: Schmidt-Atzert, L. et al., Mödling, 2005 ( information on the test )
  15. ↑ World Alzheimer Report 2015: The Global Impact of Dementia | Alzheimer's Disease International. Retrieved June 9, 2017 .
  16. ^ Board of Trustees for Road Safety
  17. ↑ https://www.schuhfried.at/über-uns/