MEASUREMENT AND ASSESSMENT

Norm-referenced interpretation

describes the performance in terms of the relative position held in some known group (e.g., typed better than 90% of the class members).

Criterion-referenced interpretation

describes the specific performance that was demonstrated (e.g., typed 40 words per minute without error). standards-based assessments

aptitude test

designed primarily to predict success in some future learning activity

achievement test

designed to indicate degree of success in some past learning activity.

measures of typical performance

designed to reflect a person's typical behavior. Methods designed to assess interests, attitudes, adjustment, and various personality traits are included in this category.

Summative assessment:

To assess achievement at the end of instruction

Placement assessment:

To determine student performance at the beginning of instruction

Diagnostic assessment:

To diagnose learning difficulties during instruction

Formative assessment

To monitor learning progress during instruction

subjective test

one in which the scores are influenced by the opinion or judgment of the person doing the scoring (e.g., essay test).

objective test

one on which equally competent examinees will obtain the same scores (e.g., multiple-choice test)

Test:

An instrument or systematic procedure for measuring a sample of behavior by posing a set of questions in a uniform manner. Because a test is a form of assessment, tests also answer the question: "How well does the individual perform—either in comparison with others or in comparison with a domain of performance tasks?"

Assessment

Any of a variety of procedures used to obtain information about student performance. Includes traditional paper-and-pencil tests as well as extended responses (e.g., essays), performances of authentic tasks (e.g., laboratory experiments), teacher observations, and student self-report. Assessment answers the question: "How well does the individual perform?"

Measurement:

The process of obtaining a numerical description of the degree to which an individual possesses a particular characteristic. Measurement answers the question: "How much?"

objective referenced

When interpretations are confined to the attainment of a specific objective (e.g., capitalized all proper nouns),

Criterion-referenced assessment

a test or other type of assessment designed to provide a measure of performance that is interpretable in terms of a clearly defined and delimited domain of learning tasks

Norm-referenced assessment:

a test or other type of assessment designed to provide a measure of performance that is interpretable in terms of an individual's relative standing in some known group.

Performance-assessment tasks

intended to closely reflect long-term instructional goals and require students to solve problems of importance outside the confines of the classroom or to perform in ways that are valued in their own right. open-ended mathematics problems requiring extended responses, laboratory experiments in science, creation of a piece of art, oral presentations, projects, and exhibitions of student work.

measures of maximum performance

the assessment results indicate what individuals can do when they put forth their best effort. Aptitude and achievement tests are included in this category.