Re: Cheating on Standardized Tests/Test Misues &

["Deanna M. De'Liberto" <Ddeliberto@AOL.COM>]

This is in response to James Powell's response to my message--my comments are
below.

In a message dated 10/2/98 10:38:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time, powell@NS.NET
writes:

>
>  This is a response to deanna De'Libirto regarding standardized testing :
>
>    street light. Another man came along and asked him if he was sure that is
where he
>  had lost his keys. He replied, "No, I lost them over there, but this is
where the
>  light is the best for searching."

Nice analogy.  I think I will use that in my workshops for three states in
late October.

  My very obvious point is that standardized
>  tests are easy to administer and score and they are a thriving business for
a few
>  publishers.  The results are increasingly being made public and are being
used for
>  purposes which were not intended by those doing the testing.

I AGREE that tests are being used for purposes other than what they were
intended.  I think EVERYONE would agree with that BUT blaming test publishers
does not resolve the problem.  The test publishers are NOT advocating that
tests be misused.

I am reminded of the saying that money is the root of all evil - but in fact
it is the greed for money that is the root of all evil since money in and of
itself does nothing except exist.  That is my point about tests.  The
developer/test author developed tests to respond to some need (purpose).  Test
publishers made the tests available.  It became clear to just about everyone
that there would be those that would find a way to misuse this information and
so standards for test use became necessary.  Publishers have established the
purpose their tests are intended to measure and standards exist regarding the
responsibilities of test publishers and users.  Let's not fault the tests and
the test publishers for the wrongs done by test users.

BTW--James what district do you work??  I have found your comments and thought
to be quite interesting as I hope mine have been for you.

They are neat and
>  clean and efficient and usually provide misleading or/or erroneous and very
>  narrowly focused information.

True only when used by those that intentionally misuse tests and/or do not
possess the proper qualifications to properly administer, score and interpret
the results.  This is a problem created by test users not test publishers.

  Once we administer the tests and have the testing
>  information in our possession the public  demands we make it public and
from
>  there, various individuals and interest groups  use the results for
whatever
>  purposes they choose.

Test publishers and the Association for Test Publishers (ATP) are aware that
this is happening.  None of us support this reality and we have developed
publication intended to educate the public on testing issues.  One such
publication is ATP's "Answers to Questions about Tests"  They are available
form ATP free of charge for quantities up to 10 per person.  You stated it
might be possible to stop the rain but you do not know how.  It is not the
tests we need to stop developing--it is the widespread misuse of tests that we
need to stop.  But for some it is easier to advocate the elimination of tests
rather than to recognize and deal with the true source of the problem.

Test misuse is NOT limited to standardized tests and may I ask what tests are
not standardized?  Even performance assessment tasks and constructed response
items will need to be standardized in terms of their administration and
scoring in order to achieve reliable and valid results.  I have always had
difficulty with the notion that what made a test standardized was that it was
norm-referenced, multiple-choice and off-the-shelf.  We do not publish off-
the-shelf tests but we do develop customized tests--most of which are
criterion referenced--but we establish uniform administration procedures and
scoring guidelines to ensure that results are reliable and valid.  Given the
definition standardization, our tests qualify but few have objected to our
tests.  The same problems with tests being used for unintended purposes exist
but perhaps the of-the-shelf tests are a much easier target.  Let's not bash
the tests but work towards a solution to ensure tests are used properly.

Deanna
===================================================
Deanna M. De'Liberto, President/Director of Assessment
D Squared Assessments, Inc.
(Specialists in Test Development/Validation and Test Administration)
9 Bedle Road, Suite 250
Hazlet, NJ 07730-1209
Phone:  (732) 888-9339
Email:    Ddeliberto@aol.com
Web:     http://www.quikpage.com/D/dsquared

Member of the Association of Test Publishers
===================================================

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