chapter 14

A frequency plot of a normal distribution produces

A bell-shaped curve

The accountability aspects of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) call for

All of the Above

What are some of the criticisms of NCLB?

All of the Above

An eighth grader has just finished taking the California Achievement Test over a period of two days. What kind of test did she take?

An achievement battery

Which of the following interpretations would Ms. Tranh make if Anita were to score at the mean of a standardized test?

B

The normal distribution has the shape of a:

BELL

Ms. Tranh compares her students' scores on a math test with those of another class. She finds that the student's average score in both classes is 75, but the students in her class have scores that are much more spread out. This means that Ms. Tranh's results will have a larger

C

Ms. Tranh speaks to Anita's parents about the many measures of achievement she has to assess Anita's academic ability. Which of the following types of assessment would Ms. Tranh use to predict Anita's future performance?

C

Ms. Tranh tells Mr. and Mrs. McKay that Anita's grade equivalent score on the CAT is 6.9. What does this mean?

C

What criticisms of standardized test relate to issues of validity and reliability?

Critics argue that standardized tests are not always valid and reliable, as they: give false information about the status of learning in the nation's schools are biased against some students, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minorities corrupt teaching by forcing teachers to focus on material tested focus greater effort on mastering skills that are more easily tested than critical thinking and creative endeavors

If Anita scored consistently on the CAT over multiple applications, it can be said that the test has

D

What is a minimum competency test, and how does it hold teachers and schools accountable for what students learn?

Minimum competency tests are criterion-referenced tests that focus on important skills students are expected to master for promotion or graduation. Schools are held accountable because they must prepare students to meet selected criteria, such as reading and mathematics.

In interpreting Standardized test scores with a view to more alignment with future classroom assessment/teaching strategies, educators might look to selecting appropriate means according to

Performance Objectives

A test is said to have criterion-related evidence of validity when:

Scores on a test are related to scores from a measure of the trait that the test could be used to predict.

Some general controversy has been raised because the No Child Left Behind Act is causing all states to make more use of

Standardized tests

What is the main difference between standardized and nonstandardized tests?

Standardized tests provide information to test takers about their performance relative to others of their age or grade-level who have already taken the test (the norm sample). Nonstandardized tests cannot provide the same information, because a norm sample is not available for purposes of comparison.

Minimum competency tests:

are criterion-referenced tests that focus on important skills students are expected to have mastered to qualify for promotion or graduation.

An aptitude test is successful to the degree that it:

predicts performance.

Stanines, Z-scores and normal curve equivalents are all:

standard scores.

Tests that are usually commercially prepared for nationwide use and designed to provide accurate and meaningful information on students' performance are known as:

standardized tests

The school accountability movement in the United States has made ample use of _____________________in their campaign to hold schools accountable for student learning outcomes.

standardized tests

The ratio of one's mental age (MA) to one's chronological age (CA) is known as:

the intelligence quotient.

A major issue in the interpretation of standardized test scores is:

the possibility of bias against students from low-income or diverse backgrounds.