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mandated reporting

the legal requirement in the United States that psychologists and other human services personnel (e.g., social workers, nurses) report any suspected or known cases of abuse or neglect of a child, a dependent adult, or an older person. Those who fail to report such cases may be subject to legal and professional sanctions.

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Psychology term of the day

February 1st 2025

Spearman–Brown prophecy formula

Spearman–Brown prophecy formula

the mathematical formulation of a basic tenet of classical test theory concerning the length (number of items) of a test and its influence on reliability, whereby increasing the number of items with similar content results in increased reliability for the test, and decreasing the number of items leads to decreased reliability. The formula allows a researcher to estimate the gains or losses in reliability that would occur with changes in test size. Also called Spearman–Brown prediction formula. [Charles Spearman; W. Brown, 20th-century British psychologist]