Clustered data structures are common in many areas of educational and psychological research (e.g., students clustered in schools, patients clustered by clinician). In the course of conducting research, questions are often administered to obtain scores reflecting latent constructs. Multilevel measurement models (MLMMs) allow for modeling…

This paper describes a comprehensive model of alignment that provides a foundation for meaningful reporting of students' academic progress over time. The model includes both horizontal and vertical alignment as integral parts of the development of content standards, test blueprints, items, item pools, instruments, performance level descriptors,…

Discusses extending research into differential item functioning (DIF) to performance assessment and considers some of the best options available at this time. The most effective strategy for assessing DIF is to use a combination of several methods, preferably one from each of the observed score nonparametric, latent score nonparametric, and…

Instructional validity of the Florida graduation test and the degree to which students were given proper preparation to pass it were studied. The Florida model illustrates procedures are available to demonstrate to the court that required skills are being taught to prepare students for success on competency tests. (DWH)

The author describes the evolution of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). He describes some of the contributions to educational research made by inquiries based on the SAT and gives particular attention to the way scaling and equating procedures for the SAT have evolved over the last half century. (Author/JAZ)