Educational Measurement From Foundations to Future

This book introduces and explores major topics in contemporary educational measurement: criterion-referenced testing, item response theory (IRT), computer-based testing, cross-lingual and cross-cultural assessment, and accountability testing. Psychometric experts describe forward-looking measurement practices and provide a contextualized understanding of how and why they were developed, how they can be used, and where they may go in the future. In addition to presenting key concepts and formulas, the volume covers established and emerging applications and discusses recurrent challenges that require additional research. A helpful glossary of abbreviations is included. The book is grounded in the work of Ronald K. Hambleton.

Craig S. Wells, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration and Associate Director of the Center for Educational Assessment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Wells teaches courses in statistical and psychometric methods. His research interests pertain to the application of item response theory models specifically for examining the effects and detection of item parameter drift, differential item functioning, and model misfit. He also has a keen interest in the philosophy of science and its applications to behavioral and social science research.

Molly Faulkner-Bond is a Graduate Research Fellow at Educational Testing Service’s English language learning and assessment center, and a doctoral candidate in Research, Educational Measurement, and Psychometrics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has published in prominent national and international journals such as the Review of Research in Education, the International Journal of Testing, and Psicothema. Her research focuses on on validity issues and evaluation in large-scale K-12 testing systems, with a particular focus on policies and assessments for English learners.

Prologue, Stephen G. Sireci
I. The Roots
1. A Brief History of Educational Testing and Psychometrics, Kurt F. Geisinger & Betty Jean Usher Tate
II. Criterion Referenced Tests
2. Criterion Referenced Testing: Advances over 40 Years, Ronald K. Hambleton, April L. Zenisky, & W. James Popham
3. Standard Setting, Mary J. Pitoniak & Gregory J. Cizek
4. Validity in the Making: From Evidence Centered Design to the Validations of the Interpretations of Test Performance, Barbara S. Plake, Kristen T. Huff, Rosemary R. Reshetar, Pamela Kaliski, & Michael Chajewski
5. Decision Consistency, Kyung Han & Lawrence M. Rudner
6. Applications of Generalizability Theory, Brian E. Clauser & Jerome C. Clauser
III. Item Response Theory
7. A Brief History of and Introduction to Item Response Theory, Molly Faulkner Bond & Craig S. Wells
8. Concepts and Methods in Research on Differential Functioning of Test Items: Past, Present, and Future, H. Jane Rogers & Hariharan Swaminathan
9. Understanding Two Dimensional Models of Multidimensional Item Response Theory through Graphical Representations, Terry A. Ackerman & Robert A. Henson
10. Testing Assumptions of Item Response Theory Models, Craig S. Wells, Joseph Rios, & Molly Faulkner Bond
IV. Computer Based Testing
11. The History of Computer Based Testing, Denny Way & Fred Robin
12. Current Issues in Computer Based Testing, Craig N. Mills & Krista J. Breithaupt
13. The Future of Computer Based Testing: Some New Paradigms, April L. Zenisky & Richard M. Luecht
14. Design and Modeling Frameworks for 21st Century Simulation  and Game Based Assessments, Alina von Davier & Robert Mislevy
V. Cross Lingual Assessment
15. Cross Lingual Educational Assessment, Avi Allalouf & Pnina Hanani
16. On Item Pools, Swimming Pools, Birds with Webbed Feet, and the Professionalization of Multilingual Assessment, Fons J. R. van de Vijver & Ype H. Poortinga
17. Test Adaptation Standards for Cross Lingual Assessment, Jose Muniz, Paula Elosua, Jose Luis Padilla, & Ronald K. Hambleton
VI. Accountability Testing and Score Reporting
18. History of Accountability in Educational Testing, Robert L. Linn
19. Growth: Measurement, Meaning, and Misuse, Lisa A. Keller, Kimberly F. Colvin, & Alejandra Garcia
20. Toward Improving the Reporting of Test Score Results: Lessons Learned from the Evolution of NAEP Reports, April L. Zenisky, John Mazzeo, & Mary J. Pitoniak
21. Performance Assessment and Accountability: Then and Now, Suzanne Lane
22. The History of Testing Special Populations: The Evolution of Fairness in Testing, Jennifer Randall & Alejandra Garcia
23. English Learners and Accountability: The Promise, Pitfalls, and Peculiarity of Assessing Language Minorities via Large Scale Assessment, Molly Faulkner Bond & Ellen Forte
24. Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities: Lessons from the National Center and State Collaborative, Martha L. Thurlow & Rachel F. Quenemoen
VII. Ongoing Debates and Future Directions
25. The Times They Are A Changing, but the Song Remains the Same: Future Issues and Practices in Test Validation, Stephen G. Sireci & Molly Faulkner Bond
Epilogue: A History of Ronald K. Hambleton, Else Hambleton