ASSUMPTIONS

• Trait


  Any distinguishable, relatively enduring way in which one individual varies from another
• Traits


  • Permit people predict the present from the past
  • Characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that generalize across similar situations, differ systematically between individuals, and remain rather stable across time
• State


  Characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving in a concrete situation at a specific moment in time
• Construct


  An informed, scientific concept developed or constructed to explain a behavior, inferred from overt behavior
• Overt Behavior


  An observable action or the product of an observable action
• Trait is not expected to be manifested in behavior 100% of the time
• Whether a trait manifests itself in observable behavior, and to what degree it manifests, is presumed to depend not only on the strength of the trait in the individual but also on the nature of the action (situation-dependent)
• Context within which behavior occurs also plays a role in helping us select appropriate trait terms for observed behaviors
• Definition of trait and state also refer to a way in which one individual varies from another
• Assessors may make comparisons among people who, because of their membership in some group or for any number of other reasons, are decidedly not average
• Quantify and Measure


  Once the trait, state or other construct has been defined to be measured, a test developer consider the types of item content that would provide insight to it, to gauge the strength of that trait
• Cumulative Scoring


  Assumption that the more the testtaker responds in a particular direction keyed by the test manual as correct or consistent with a particular trait, the higher that testtaker is presumed to be on the targeted ability or trait
• The tasks in some tests mimics the actual behaviors that the test user is attempting to understand
• Such tests only yield a sample of the behavior that can be expected to be emitted under nontest conditions
• Competent test users understand and appreciate the limitations of the test they use as well as how those limitations might be compensated for by data from other sources
• Error


  Refers to something that is more than expected; it is component of the measurement process
• Error Variance


  The component of a test score attributable to sources other than the trait or ability measured
• Potential Sources of error variance

  • Assessors
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Random errors such as luck
• Classical Test Theory


  Each testtaker has true score on a test that would be obtained but for the action of measurement error
• Despite best efforts of many professionals, fairness-related questions and problems do occasionally rise
• In all questions about tests with regards to fairness, it is important to keep in mind that tests are tools - they can be used properly or improperly
• Assumption 7: Testing and Assessment Benefit


  Many critical decisions are based on testing and assessment procedures, so there is a need for tests