The German DIN 33430 project

Report by: Dave Bartram 21/1/01

Work is progressing in Germany on the definition of a national quality standard for the assessment process. Ackerschott (2000) reported that 80% to 90% of psychological assessment services are sold in Germany by non-psychologists with a wide range of different backgrounds in terms of skill and experience. He notes that there is currently no control or regulation regarding the quality of the services they provide. All sorts of different tests are used in the assessment process. The test-commission of the Federation of German Psychologists Associations has had no visible impact on this situation.

Because of concerns over this situation, in 1995 the BDP officially initiated the DIN 33430 project by applying to the German Association of Standardization for a standard of psychological tests. This application concerned psychometric test methods based on classical test theory or probabilistic test theory, applied as paper-pencil-tests or computer-based or based on other technical devices. The objectives of this BDP-initiative were to:

	protect candidates from unprofessional use or misuse of tests and assessment-procedures;
	minimize wrong decisions in the context of aptitude-testing and the subsequent economic, social and personal costs;
	require test-developers and publishers to raise the quality of tests;
	encourage good practice in the implementation of psychological assessment-procedures, tests and other psychological instruments.

The standardization approach to improving assessment is one that holds considerable potential, as it can be used to focus on the quality with which processes and procedures are carried out as well (rather than just the quality of the instruments that are used). In relation to testing, there is the possibility of providing both product standards and service standards. This provides a means of bringing together the two key issues of test instrument quality and test user competence.

International standardization organizations form a hierarchy with the International Standardization Organization (ISO) at the peak. Within Europe, Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) acts as the Europe-wide coordinating body for National Standardization Bodies (NSBs), such as the British Standards Institute (BSI) in the United Kingdom and the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) in Germany. CEN is an international non-profit organization. Its central secretariat is in Brussels and it has 19 national members (15 EU, 3 EFTA and the Czech Republic)

The German DIN 33430 project has, after consultations and discussions with diverse groups focused on the following as its subject: Requirements for Procedures / Methods and their Applications in the Context of Judgments of Professional Aptitude. DIN 33430 covers regulations on:

	diagnostic procedures
	instruments and methods
	people involved in the procedures
	procedures and processes
	job- and contextual-analysis
	defining the person specification, in terms of personal characteristics, knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications
	selection of adequate measures/instruments/methods
	procedures, planning and application of methods
	interpretation and communication of results
	criteria for the choice and combination of instruments
	quality of instruments
	objectivity
	validity
	reliability
	norms

In particular, for people with positions of responsibility in the assessment process, it considers requirements for:

	knowledge
	training
	experience
	responsibility and how responsibilities can be delegated to assistants

The DIN 33430 has completed it draft stage and is now in its consultation phase. Comments are due to be reviewed and final approval granted by Spring 2001, with publication scheduled for the summer of 2001. Once published, it will be possible for other European countries to review this standard for possible adoption.

Reference:

Ackerschott, H. (2000). Standards in Testing and Assessment: DIN 33430. Paper presented at the Second International Congress on Licensure, Certification and Credentialing of Psychologists, OSLO, Norway

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Revised: 15/05/2007 16:45