The existence of criterion-referenced (CR) measurement is questioned in this paper. Despite beliefs that differences exist between two alternative forms of measurement, CR and Norm Referenced (NR), an analysis of philosophical and psychological descriptions of measurement, as well as a growing number of empirical studies, reveal that the common distinctions drawn between CR and NR measurement focus on what occurs prior to and following measurement, namely the writing of items and the interpreting of test scores. In this respect, the use of the term "criterion-referenced measurement" is paradoxical. (Author/DEP)