Call for increased psychometric practice in Africa
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, hence psychologists are actively involved in the study and understanding of mental processes, brain functions, and behavior. By inference, the science of psychology centers on psychometrics, which is the measurement or quantification of behavioral properties or constructs. While it is much easier to understand and appreciate the measurement of physical properties, it is a herculean task quantifying human behavior; because of its complexity and dynamism. Considering the challenges faced by most nations in Africa, especially in terms of behavioral dispositions to corruption, terrorism, cultism, banditry, inter-ethnic, communal and religious conflicts, and the like; the call for more scientific approach to understanding the behaviors of Africans would require the use of home-made psychological tests. In an environment where African scholars rely more on foreign psychological tests, the practice of the profession becomes limited in effectively capturing the behavior of Africans. Trying to understand how Africans behave, why they behave the way they do, prediction and modification of their behaviors is a great challenge for the psychologists. There is therefore a call for conscious intensive advocacy, training and practice in the field of psychometrics.
Psychologists in Africa are more exposed to foreign developed and standardized psychological tests than locally manufactured tests. Consequently, students in higher institutions tend more to studying variables that these tests capture, in the African environment, even when their prevalence may be low. Due to limitedness in tests to capture the unique behavioral problems in Africa, many pertinent “African behavioral problems” are left unstudied. Practitioners in the field also find it difficult to address some behavioral issues due to unavailability of psychological tests. It is on this note that this paper would promote the importance of locally developed psychological tests that would readily capture prevalent behaviors in African, and outline some tips on how to develop and validate psychological tests for African use.
Prof. Benjamin Ehigie
Professor Osayawe Bejamin Ehigie has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Psychology, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1982-86), Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, from the University of Ibadan (1987-1988); Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree from the University of Ibadan (1988-1993). Professor Ehigie received the University of Nigeria Bursary Award for academic excellence during his first degree, made the best result in his M.Sc. class and was offered a lecturing job in the University of Ibadan. He passed through the academic ranks and was promoted to the rank of full Professor in 2006.
Professor Ehigie has served the University of Ibadan as a Faculty Sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Acting Head and substantive Head of Psychology Department, Editor and Sub-editor of several journals, Foundation National Coordinator and President of the Nigerian Association of Industrial and Organisational Psychologists (NAIOP), a Fellow of the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA), a Fellow of NAIOP, a Certified Management Consultant, a Professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, with research specialization in Psychometrics and Consumer Psychology. He is the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan. He is a recipient of several research grants and was awarded the Visiting International Scholar position at Dickinson College, Pennslyvania, USA, (2004-2005). He is a Visiting Professor, and external examiner to several universities in Nigeria He teaches in the University of Ibadan School of Business, a consultant to the University of Ibadan Consultancy Services, International Psychometric Centre, and some other institutions.