The Texas State University-San Marcos undergraduate healthcare administration program requires all bachelors of health administration (BHA) students to pass a comprehensive examination to demonstrate their knowledge of specific core competencies. This also demonstrates completion of their didactic coursework in order to enter a practical…

Binomial models for domain-referenced testing are compared, emphasizing the assumptions underlying the beta-binomial model. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed. A proposed item sampling model is presented which takes the effect of guessing into account. (Author/CM)

Focusing on the use of "paper and pencil" criterion-referenced tests in educational measurement, and to correct misconceptions, the definitions of basic terms and historical antecedents are discussed. Classifications of the tests are compared with other achievement tests. The phases in developing criterion-referenced tests are presented with the…

On the basis of the characteristics of criterion-referenced tests, the contribution of German research to the development and application of criterion-referenced tests is discussed. (PN)

A behavioral domain is well-defined when it is clear to both test developers and test users which categories of performance should or should not be considered for potential test items. Only those tests that are keyed to well-defined domains meet the definition of criterion-referenced tests. The greatest proliferation of criterion-referenced tests…

A continuum of item-writing methods is proposed ranging from informal-subjective methods to algorithmic-objective methods. Examples of techniques include objective-based item writing, amplified objectives, item forms, facet design, domain-referenced concept testing, and computerized techniques. (Author/CP)

Questions about the appropriateness of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test have led to consideration of the use of a criterion referenced test for assessing students' reading abilities before and after each semester of developmental reading instruction. In constructing such a test, a number of steps should be followed. The first step is to clarify the…

Two approaches to criterion-referenced test construction are compared. Classical test theory is based on the practice of random sampling from a well-defined domain of test items; latent trait theory suggests that the difficulty of the items should be matched to the achievement level of the student. In addition to these two methods of test…

Discusses the use of standardized test results as a guide to developing curriculum content and uses data gathered at Hellgate Elementary School, Montana, as an example. (JC)

Discusses the use of standardized test results as a guide to developing curriculum content. Discusses such a plan being used (and offers data gathered) at Hellgate Elementary School, Montana, as an example. (JC)

The present study was designed to examine whether or not traditional procedures concerning item selection and reliability are both applicable and appropriate for criterion-referenced (CR) tests. It was also designed to examine traditional procedures and those designed especially for CR testing in relation to test variance and item homogeneity.…

Latent trait models may offer considerable potential for the improvement of educational measurement practices, but until recently, they have received only limited attention from measurement specialists. This paper provides a brief introduction to latent trait models, and provides test practitioners with a non-technical introduction to the…

The proposed standard for judging proficiency test score reliability requires that the proportion of items passed for each objective assessed be a dependable estimate of the universe score for the domain strata established by the objective. Domain breadth is the focusing issue. Data from a field trial of the Tennessee Proficiency Test are analyzed…

This manual is designed to assist faculty members at the University of North Dakota (UND) in the construction, scoring, and analysis of their classroom tests. A computer program is described which will assist staff in test scoring and analysis. The program was developed by the author in the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation of the…

Presents major stages in design and development of criterion referenced tests (CRT) with emphasis on differences between CRT construction and norm-referenced test construction. Discussion covers test interpretation; test theory; preparation for test construction (hierarchical analysis, item type selection, and choosing number of items); test…