Current state of adaptation of foreign psychodiagnostic instruments in Kazakhstan: an analytical review

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the widespread use of foreign psychodiagnostic instruments in Kazakhstan and the need for their comprehensive cross-cultural adaptation in accordance with contemporary international psychometric requirements. The aim of the study was to analyze the current state of adaptation and validation of foreign psychodiagnostic instruments in Kazakhstan and to identify the main methodological problems in this field. The study material comprised scientific articles and doctoral dissertations devoted to the adaptation and validation of psychological instruments in Kazakhstan published between 2013 and 2026. After excluding duplicate and insufficiently informative studies, 22 unique studies were included in the final analysis. Expert psychometric evaluation was conducted on the basis of the recommendations of the International Test Commission and the AERA/APA/NCME standards. The results showed that the average level of compliance of the analyzed studies with international psychometric requirements was 39.1%. The most frequently met requirements were the assessment of internal consistency of scales (95.7%), adequacy of the testing format and procedures (78.3%), and semantic equivalence of items (56.5%). At the same time, none of the studies conducted differential item functioning (DIF) analysis, assessed measurement invariance, or calculated the standard error of measurement (SEM). Cognitive interviewing was fully implemented in only 4.3% of the studies, while official permission from the copyright holder to use and adapt the instrument was reported in 26.1% of cases. The scientific significance of the study lies in systematizing the current state of psychometric adaptation of foreign tests in Kazakhstan and identifying the most problematic stages of their validation. The findings indicate the need to strengthen requirements for cross-cultural adaptation, expand the use of modern psychometric methods, and ensure compliance with international standards when developing Kazakhstani versions of diagnostic instruments.