Page 190 - DEDU504_EDUCATIONAL_MEASUREMENT_AND_EVALUATION_ENGLISH

Educational Measurement and Evaluation

Notes how other students perform. In addition, test results can be quickly obtained to give
students effective feedback on their performance. Although norm-referenced tests are
most suitable for developing normative data across large groups, criterion-referenced
tests can produce some local norms.
14.4 Disadvantages of Criterion Referenced Test ( CRT )

• Criterion-referenced tests have some built-in disadvantages. Creating tests that are both
valid and reliable requires fairly extensive and expensive time and effort. In addition,
results cannot be generalized beyond the specific course or program. Such tests may also be
compromised by students gaining access to test questions prior to exams. Criterion-
referenced tests are specific to a program and cannot be used to measure the performance of
large groups.
Analyzing Test Items
• Item analysis is used to measure the effectiveness of individual test items. The main purpose
is to improve tests, to identify questions that are too easy, too difficult or too susceptible to
guessing. While test items can be analyzed on both criterion-referenced and norm-referenced
tests, the analysis is somewhat different because the purpose of the two types of tests is
different.

14.5 Applications of Criterion Referenced Test ( CRT )

Criterion-referenced tests are used in many ways. Classroom teachers use them to monitor
student performance in their day-to-day activities. States find them useful for evaluating student
performance and generating educational accountability information at the classroom, school,
district, and state levels. The tests are based on the curricula, and the result provide a basis for
determining how much is being learned by students and how well the educational system is
producing desired results. Criterion-referenced tests are also used in training programs to assess
learning. Typically pretest-posttest designs with parallel forms of criterion-referenced tests are
used. Finally, criterion-referenced tests are used in the credentialing field to determine persons
qualified to receive a license or certificate.

What is the use of criterion reference tests are used in credentialing field.

Self Assessment

1. Fill in the blanks :
(i) ______ test provides basis for determining a candidate’s level of knowledge and skills in
relation to a well defined domain of Content.
(ii) Criterion reference tests have an established ______ scores.
(iii) ______ use criterion reference test to monitor student performance in their day to day
activities.
(iv) Criterion reference tests are also used in the training programs to assess ______.

14.6 Summary
• A test in which questions are written according to specific predetermined criteria. A student
knows what your standards are for passing and only competes against him or herself while
completing.

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