In educational testing, subscores may be provided based on a portion of the items from a larger test. One consideration in evaluation of such subscores is their ability to predict a criterion score. Two limitations on prediction exist. The first, which is well known, is that the coefficient of determination for linear prediction of the criterion…

Judge-mediated examinations are defined as those for which expert evaluation (using rubrics) is required to determine correctness, completeness, and reasonability of test-taker responses. The use of multifaceted Rasch modeling has led to improvements in the reliability of scoring such examinations. The establishment of criterion-referenced…

Single-administration procedures for estimating the coefficient of agreement, a reliability index for criterion referenced tests, were recently developed by Subkoviak. The procedures require a distributional assumption for errors of measurement and an estimate of each examinee's true score. A computer simulation of tests composed of items that…

Article commented on a study by Harris, who presented formulas for the variance of errors of estimation (of a true score from an observed score) and the variance of errors of prediction (of an observed score from an observed score on a parallel test). (Author/RK)

A general coefficient for tests, delta, is derived from a decision theoretic point of view. The situations are considered in which a true score is estimated by a function of the observed score, observed scores are split into more than two categories, and observed scores are split into only two categories. (Author/CTM)

A computer simulation study was conducted to investigate Subkoviak's index of reliability for criterion-referenced tests, called the coefficient of agreement. Results indicate that the index can be adequately estimated. (JKS)

Derives formulas for the validity of predictor-criterion tests that hold for all test scores constructed according to the expected-value concept of true score. These more general formulas disclose some paradoxical properties of test validity under conditions where errors are correlated and have some implications for practical testing situations…

Concern about passing those examinees who should pass, and retaining those who need remedial work, is one problem related to criterion-referenced testing. This paper deals with one aspect of that problem. When determining how many items to include on a criterion-referenced test, practitioners must resolve various non-statistical issues before a…

The paper considers the problem of selecting the t best of k normal populations and simultaneously determining whether the selected populations have a mean larger than a known standard. Illustrations are given for selecting the t best of k examinees when the binomial error model applies. (Author)

This handbook treats a restricted set of statistical procedures for addressing some of the most prevalent technical issues that arise in domain-referenced testing. The procedures discussed here were chosen because they do not necessitate extensive computations. The five major sections of the paper cover: (1) item analysis procedures for using data…

Basic issues in criterion-referenced measurement are addressed. In section II, issues involved in determining what a person does and can do are considered. A preliminary analysis of "can" is given which shows that there are several important senses of "can". In section III, results of an analysis of "ability" are…

A distinction is made between reliability of measurement and reliability of classification; the "criterion-referenced reliability coefficient" describes the former. Application of this coefficient to the probability distribution of possible scores for a single student yields a meaningful way to describe the reliability of a single score. (Author)

One aim of criterion-referenced testing is to classify an examinee without reference to a norm group; therefore, any statements about the dependability of such classification ought to be group-independent also. A population-independent index is proposed in terms of the probability of incorrect classification near the cutoff true score. The…

An attempt is made to explore the use of subjective probabilities in the analysis of item data, especially criterion-referenced item data. Two assumptions are implicit: (1) one wants to obtain a maximum amount of information with respect to an item using a minimum number of subjects; and (2) once the item is validated, it may well be administered…

Livingston's reliability coefficients and Harris' indices of efficiency were computed along with the classical internal consistency coefficients, KR-20's (Kuder-Richardson internal consistency coefficient), for 678 criterion-referenced tests in the A through E levels of an individualized mathematics program. The coefficients were carefully studied…