Validity
Ms. Collins gives her students a spelling test to measure how well they can add two-digit numbers. The results tell her little about math skills.
What is a lack of validity?
Mr. Clark notices his reading test gives similar results every time he uses it.
What is high reliability?
Ms. Johnson gives a math test that measures multiplication facts, and she uses the scores to decide who needs more practice.
What is using a test for its intended purpose?
A teacher’s test scores change wildly each time she gives it to her class.
What is low reliability?
A teacher gives a test on the solar system but includes several questions about constellations, which were never taught.
What is poor content validity?
Ms. Smith gives two different versions of a spelling test, and students earn nearly identical scores on both.
What is alternate-form reliability?
A teacher says her test is “valid” because it looks nice and has clear directions.
What is face validity?
Mrs. Green’s science test gives consistent results for students who take it in the morning and afternoon.
What is evidence of reliability?
Ms. Smoak uses a writing rubric that matches her learning objectives for descriptive essays. The scores accurately show how well students can describe.
What is evidence of validity?
Ms. Turner grades essays on Monday and again on Wednesday and gives the same scores both times.
What is scorer reliability?
Mr. Dawkins gives a social studies test that covers the Civil War, just as his lesson plans did.
What is alignment with instructional goals?
A teacher notices that when she changes small details on a quiz, the results don’t change much.
What is strong internal consistency?
A district uses a standardized math test to decide if students should move to the next grade, even though the test was meant to measure yearly progress, not promotion readiness.
What is misuse of a test’s purpose?
Ms. Adams gives a 20-question math quiz and all the items measure multiplication facts.
What is internal consistency reliability?
A teacher gives a science test and all questions come directly from the standards taught that week.
What is strong content validity?
A teacher wants her tests to give dependable results every time they’re given.
What is a goal of reliability?
The principal uses an art project to judge which students are ready for advanced math. The evidence from that art task does not support that purpose.
What is an invalid use of a test score?
Ms. King finds her test results vary a lot depending on whether students take the test before or after lunch.
What is low reliability?
A teacher reviews test data to see whether scores match how well students perform in class.
What is gathering validity evidence?
Mr. Perez’s math test gives consistent results for high-performing and low-performing students alike.
What is strong reliability across groups?