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Educational Assessment of Students Eighth Edition

Chapter 18 Finding and Evaluating Published Assessments

Key Concepts

18.1 You can search printed materials, online resources, and personal contacts to locate information about published assessments. After locating published tests, obtain and read evaluations or reviews of these tests. Internet searches and test publishers’ websites will help you locate computerized testing materials. There are also print and online resources for locating unpublished test materials, which can be useful in research and evaluation projects. Some publishers restrict the sale of test materials. To evaluate and select a test or assessment, clarify your purpose, obtain and review assessment materials, and try them out in a pilot study.

Some Print Resources

• Tests in Print (TIP) IX – information about more than 4,000 commercially

available instruments – also available in Spanish

• Tests: A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education, and Business

– lists and describes ~2000 tests, but no evaluation

• Textbooks

• Test publishers’ catalogues

Locating Published Tests Online

• Buros test locator

• ETS test collection

• Publishers’ websites

• ERIC.gov, PsycINFO

• General Internet search – use “assessment” or “test” as subject keyword

Locating Published Tests through Personal Contacts

• Contact professional contacts and organizations directly

• Contact testing specialists in colleges and universities, perhaps via dept. chair

• Visit promotional exhibits at conferences

Locating Evaluations of Published Tests from Print Sources

• Use Mental Measurements Yearbooks (MMYs) – Reviews of hundreds of tests

• Use Test Critiques (Volumes I–XI) – Testing specialist reviews each test

• Search for reviews in professional journals

Locating Evaluations of Published Tests in Other Ways

• Test Reviews Online from the Buros Center for Testing

• Contact testing specialists in colleges and universities

• Contact testing offices in schools, colleges, and universities

Locating Unpublished Tests from Print Sources

• ETS Test Collection

• Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental Measures

Locating Unpublished Tests Online

• Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI)

• ETS Test Collection

• Search ERIC.gov and PsycINFO

• General Internet search

Some Publishers Restrict the Sale of Test Materials

3 Levels of Restrictions

• Level A – Tests may be ordered on official letterhead by an agency or

organization in which qualified persons will administer and interpret the results.

• Level B – Tests may be ordered by individuals who can verify they have

sufficient training and supervised experience to administer and interpret the test.

• Level C – Tests must be ordered by individuals who can verify they have a

PhD or related degree and sufficient training

Steps for Selecting a Test or Assessment

• Clarify your purpose

• Obtain and review assessment materials

• Try them out in a pilot study

Review the Actual Assessment Materials

• Obtain the test and accompanying materials (specimen set)

• Consider technical information about quality – Technical manuals often must be ordered separately

• Work with a committee to review all materials in light of the planned purpose

– Make sure achievement tests match the curriculum

• Pilot test the test

Put New Assessment Plans into Local Context

• Take stock of the assessments already being used in the district.

– Develop perspective on what an external assessment contributes beyond the school-based assessments currently used.

• Review state-mandated assessments and alignment with standardized tests.

• Weigh the instructional value of standardized tests against that of teacher-based assessments.

• Consider the qualifications of the staff.

Using a Standardized Test to Evaluate a School District

• This is a difficult task!

• A test is just one of many measures that should be used.

Educational Assessment of Students
Key Concepts
Some Print Resources
Locating Published Tests Online
Locating Published Tests through Personal Contacts
Locating Evaluations of Published Tests from Print Sources
Locating Evaluations of Published Tests in Other Ways
Locating Unpublished Tests from Print Sources
Locating Unpublished Tests Online
Some Publishers Restrict the Sale of Test Materials
Steps for Selecting a Test or Assessment
Review the Actual Assessment Materials
Put New Assessment Plans into Local Context
Using a Standardized Test to Evaluate a School District
Copyright