Preequating is in demand because it reduces score reporting time. In this article, we evaluated an observed-score preequating method: the empirical item characteristic curve (EICC) method, which makes preequating without item response theory (IRT) possible. EICC preequating results were compared with a criterion equating and with IRT true-score…

Score equating based on small samples of examinees is often inaccurate for the examinee populations. We conducted a series of resampling studies to investigate the accuracy of five methods of equating in a common-item design. The methods were chained equipercentile equating of smoothed distributions, chained linear equating, chained mean equating,…

Results indicate that scale values can be approximated satisfactorily through item-examinee sampling. Defining one observation as the response made by one examinee to one item, the similarity between the estimated scale values and normative scale values increased generally with increases in the number of observations acquired by the sampling plan.…

The use of matrix sampling to overcome the impracticality of the pair comparison method for obtaining scale values is empirically tested. Results indicate that matrix sampling is useful in such applications. (Author/JKS)

Several techniques exist to automatically put together a test meeting a number of specifications. In an item bank, the items are stored with their characteristics. A test is constructed by selecting a set of items that fulfills the specifications set by the test assembler. Test assembly problems are often formulated in terms of a model consisting…

Latent partition analysis is shown to be useful in determining the conceptual homogeneity of an item population. Such item populations are useful for mastery testing. Applications of latent partition analysis in assessing content validity are suggested. (Author/JKS)

Investigated empirically through post mortem item-examinee samplings were the relative merits of two alternative procedures for allocating items to subtests in multiple matrix sampling and the feasibility of using the jackknife in approximating standard errors of estimate. (Editor)

These results indicate that in deciding on the data-gathering design to be used in seeking norm information, attention should be given to item characteristics and test length with particular attention paid to the range of biserial correlations between item response and ability. (Author)

The suitability of the beta binomial test model for criterion referenced testing was investigated, first by considering whether underlying assumptions are realistic, and second, by examining the robustness of the model. Results suggest that the model may have practical value. (Author/RD)

The net effect of the conditions under which tests are taken was empirically investigated using the scores obtained by high school students on an English and a mathematics test. (Author/BB)

A single conceptual and theoretical framework for sampling any configuration of data from one or more population matrices is presented, integrating past designs and discussing implications for more general designs. The theory is based upon a generalization of the generalized symmetric mean approach for single matrix samples. (Author/CTM)