Assessment for learning -Qualities of a Good Test

Assessment for learning

1. QUALITIES OF A GOOD TEST

2. A test is the major and most commonly used instrument for the assessment of cognitive behaviors . An achievement test is a test of developed skill or knowledge. The most common type of achievement test is a standardized test developed to measure skills and knowledge learned in a given grade level, usually through planned instruction, such as training or classroom instruction

3. A good test possess the following qualities..... Objectivity Objective Basedness Comprehensiveness Validity Reliability Discriminating Power Practicability Comparability Utility

4. 1.Objectivity A test is said to be objective ,if it is free from personal bias. Objectivity of a test can be increased by adding more objective type test items. 2.Objective Basedness A test should be based on predetermined objectives. Objective weightage should be in accordance with the design

5. 3.Comprehensiveness A test should cover the whole syllabus It should cover all the anticipated objectives Importance should given to all learning materials. 4.Validity A test is said to be valid if it measure what it intends to measure Validity is a more test-dependant concept A test is valid if it measures what we want it to measure 

6. Types of validity…… Content Validity - refers to the extent to which the content of a test's items represents the entire body of content to be measured. Operational Validity -If the task required by the test are sufficient to evaluate and measure the defined activities . Predictive Validity - assesses the extent to which the scale or test predicts future behavior or performance Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an example of test used to predict future performance, whether degree of success in college can be predicted or not Construct Validity - refers to theoretical concepts about certain human traits, capabilities and processes that can be observed directly.

7. 5.Reliability It refers to the degree of consistency It is the consistency of a measure, by getting the same result through repeated Inquiry process If a test is not reliable ,it cannot be valid. Methods to determine reliability of a test ….. A .Test –retest method A test is administered twice to the same group with a short interval in between To assess the consistency of a test across time

8. B .parallel -forms method – A dministration of two alternate forms of the same measurement device and then comparing the scores Example:Administer Test A to a group and then administer Test B to same group; then correlate the two scores as estimate of the test reliability

9. C .split -half method – It does not require two administrations of the same or an alternative form test; Here total number of items is divided into halves, and a correlation taken between the two halves which only estimates the reliability of each half of the test use a statistical correlation to estimate the reliability of the whole test, such as Spearman-Brown formula

10.   6.Discriminating Power The degree to which the single item separates the superior from the inferior individuals in the trait or group of traits being measured.” The discriminatory power may be defined as the extent to which success and failure on that item indicate the possession of the trait or achievement being measured The discriminating power may be considered at two level For the whole test For each items

11. 7. Practicability Consider economy of time ,Effort , No.of personnel and Finance required 8.Comparability The test scores obtained can be interpreted in terms of a common base 9.Utility A test has utility if it provides the test conditions that would facilitate realization of the purpose.