Whimsy and capriciousness

["Allen Flanigan." <Allen.Flanigan@USPTO.GOV>]

Art writes,


"We should expect that, in the construction of the tests, "subjective" is
not the same as "whim" or "capriciousness." "

I think the terms "whimsical" and "capricious" are applicable to a number of
allegedly "objective" testing phenomena, like the process used to select cut
scores in Virginia and California described in Jerry Bracey's recently
posted 11th Bracey Report on the Condition of Schools.

On the other hand, calling Riverside employee who crafted the Mary Kay
Letourneau" question which appeared on the WASL "whimsical" or "capricious"
is overly generous, if you ask me.  Riverside President John Laramy's
characterization of "malicious" seems closer to the mark.

I learned years ago that what we are led to expect and what we get are often
two different things.  Caveat Parens.



-----Original Message-----
From: aburke@VANSD.ORG [mailto:aburke@VANSD.ORG]
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 4:03 PM
To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU
Subject: Re: SRA



Art

>>> PAVURSOL@AOL.COM 09/24 12:27 PM >>>
In a message dated 9/24/2001 2:31:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gkc@LOUISVILLE.EDU writes:


> Use objective tests, e.g., multiple-choice items.

Someone picks the questions (they select from a group of questions).  There
would be subjectiveness here.  THey would also have to decide which is the
correct answer.  Again subjectiveness.  And the cut score would be
determined.  Subjective.

Hmm.  Using judgment to determine how kids are doing.   How novel.

And even in VA, home of the "we love multiple choice," our powers that be
have recognized they can't assess it all with multiple choice.  So we don't
assess it.  Only about half the language arts and math Standards are
actually
"assessed" on our state assessments. I haven't counted the science ones
(although it is likely lower than the LA and math).  ANd social studies is
still a secret.


Mickey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the ARN-L list, send command SIGNOFF ARN-L
to LISTSERV@LISTS.CUA.EDU.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the ARN-L list, send command SIGNOFF ARN-L
to LISTSERV@LISTS.CUA.EDU.