We propose a new item response theory growth model with item-specific learning parameters, or ISLP, and two variations of this model. In the ISLP model, either items or blocks of items have their own learning parameters. This model may be used to improve the efficiency of learning in a formative assessment. We show ways that the ISLP model's…

This study aims to assess student motivation to provide valid responses to the PISA student questionnaire. This was done by modeling response times using a three-component finite mixture model, comprising two satisficing response styles (rapid and idle) and one optimizing response style. Each participant's motivation was operationalized as their…

The structure and function relationship is a core concept identified by physiology faculty. Prior research has shown this may be a difficult concept for students to understand. Formative written assessments, such as short answer essay questions, allow students to demonstrate their thinking by encouraging students to use their diverse ideas to…

That social studies and, to a lesser degree science, have become something of orphans in K-6 instruction is an open secret. The system of schooling in the US has increasingly become objectives and standards based. As this edifice has grown, it has demanded more measurability and thus more accountability. That accountability, through testing, is…

To facilitate the chemistry education community in locating and evaluating published assessment instruments, the Chemistry Instrument Review and Assessment Library (CHIRAL) encompasses a number of resources. First and foremost, CHIRAL contains a catalog of over 500 assessment instruments that is easily searchable, allowing for the identification…

Science scores among US fourth-grade students have declined compared to their international counterparts in recent years. Recent results show that teachers are the most impactful influence on student success and accountability. Teacher preparedness and professional development are two key areas that serve as indicators of providing relevant and…

Mosaic™ by ACT® Social Emotional Skills Assessment (hereafter called Mosaic) measures five key social and emotional (SE) skills: Sustaining Effort, Getting Along with Others, Maintaining Composure, Keeping an Open Mind, and Social Connection. This assessment includes three distinct item types--Likert, situational judgment test, and forced…

High school students with high-incidence disabilities and struggling writers face considerable challenges when taking writing assessments designed for college entrance. This study examined the effectiveness of a writing intervention for improving students' performance on a college entrance exam, the writing assessment for the ACT. Students were…

Background: The idea of using low-stakes assessment results is often mentioned when designing educational system reforms. However, when tests have no consequences for the students, test takers may not make enough effort when completing the test, and their lack of engagement may negatively affect the validity of the conclusions of the studies that…

This research proposes a new statistic for testing latent variable distribution fit for unidimensional item response theory (IRT) models. If the typical assumption of normality is violated, then item parameter estimates will be biased, and dependent quantities such as IRT score estimates will be adversely affected. The proposed statistic compares…

The linguistic complexity of many text-based tests can be a source of construct-irrelevant variance, as test-takers' performance may be affected by factors that are beyond the focus of the assessment itself, such as reading comprehension skills. This experimental study examined the extent to which the use of animated videos, as opposed to written…

This convergent mixed method study aimed at exploring the English context of the widely used Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) by juxtaposing it to its sequel, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For this purpose, the study used the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) international standards which is used as a…

Principals (policymakers) disagree as to whether U. S. student performance has changed over the past half century. To inform conversations, agents administered seven million psychometrically linked tests in math (m) and reading (rd) in 160 survey waves to national probability samples of cohorts born between 1954 and 2007. Estimated change in…

Rater training is an important part of developing and conducting large-scale constructed-response assessments. As part of this process, candidate raters have to pass a certification test to confirm that they are able to score consistently and accurately before they begin scoring operationally. Moreover, many assessment programs require raters to…

This study aims to investigate the linguistic organisation and coherence of personal narratives among children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) to provide insight into their communication skills in everyday contexts. A cohort of 10-year-old Croatian-speaking children diagnosed with DLD (n = 50, M = 10;8) and their gender-matched…