Interpreting test results

Standardization is a cornerstone of any serious psychological test. It is fundamental to a test’s objectivity and reduces subjectivity to a minimum. In this article we demonstrate that standardization alone is a necessary but insufficient condition for a test’s objectivity. By varying the description of test results within a normal curve, we obtained systematic violations of objectivity. In particular, we introduce the concept of a “double framing effect” and show its prevalence in diagnostic decisions of both laypeople and experts.