Measurement and Assessment in the Schools

by Worthen, Blaine R.; White, Karl R.; Fan, Xitao; Sudweeks, Richard R.

• ISBN13: 9780801316609
• ISBN10: 080131660X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Intended to show how assessment measures can be applied easily to real-life, day-to-day teaching situations, this text teaches students basic assessment principles and issues, and helps them interpret the quality and usefulness of specific measures. Adopting a jargon-free, applications oriented approach, the text includes historical data as well as current trends in testing. Strong coverage of hot topics in assessment, such as authentic assessment approaches, national trends in achievement s cores, minimum competency testing, the use of tests to certify teacher competence, and the use of microcomputers in classroom and school testing.

Table of Contents

Detailed Contents	vii	(8)
Preface	xv	(8)
To the Instructor	xvi	(4)
To the Student	xx	(3)
Acknowledgments	xxiii
SECTION I GETTING YOU ORIENTED	1	(54)
CHAPTER 1 What Is Measurement, and How Did We Get Where We Are with It?	3	(24)
CHAPTER 2 Coming to Grips with Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Measurement	27	(28)
SECTION II BEGINNING YOUR EXCURSION An Overview of Basic Measurement Concepts and Principles	55	(126)
CHAPTER 3 Learning to Read the Signposts What do Those Test Scores Really Mean?	57	(36)
CHAPTER 4 Why Worry About Reliability? Reliable Measures Yield Trustworthy Scores	93	(35)
CHAPTER 5 Why Worry About Validity? Valid Measures Permit Accurate Conclusions	128	(23)
CHAPTER 6 Cutting Down Test Score Pollution Reducing the Influence of Extraneous Factors	151	(30)
SECTION III CONSTRUCTING NEW MEASURES Learning to Use a Blueprint	181	(230)
CHAPTER 7 Constructing Your Own Achievement Tests Deciding When and How to Do So	183	(26)
CHAPTER 8 Steps in Developing Good Items for Your Achievement Tests	209	(37)
CHAPTER 9 The Process of Becoming an Expert Tester Assembly, Administration, and Analysis	246	(34)
CHAPTER 10 To Use or Not to Use Alternative Assessment	280	(49)
CHAPTER 11 Constructing and Using Descriptive Measures Questionnaires, Interviews, Observations, and Rating Scales	329	(28)
CHAPTER 12 Getting in Touch with Students' Feelings Measuring Attitudes and Interests	357	(28)
CHAPTER 13 Picking the Right Yardstick Assigning Grades and Reporting Student Performance	385	(26)
SECTION IV USING EXISTING MEASURES A Shopper's Guide to the Measurement Supermarket	411	(114)
CHAPTER 14 Understanding the Criticisms of Published Tests and Selecting the Best Measures for Use in Your Schools	413	(26)
CHAPTER 15 What Have My Students Learned? An Introduction to Standardized Achievement Measures	439	(30)
CHAPTER 16 Assessing Your Students' Potential A Look at Aptitude and Readiness Measures	469	(35)
CHAPTER 17 Understand Your Students' Special Needs Using Tests for Diagnosis and for Special Populations	504	(21)
Appendix Statistical Formulas and Computation Examples	525	(6)
References	531	(40)
Index	571