ERIC Number: EJ1379774
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1207-7798
(In)Stability of Test Scores
Merchant, Stefan; Rich, Jessica; Klinger, Don A.
Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, n201 p15-27 2022
Both school and district administrators use the results of standardized, large-scale tests to inform decisions about the need for, or success of, educational programs and interventions. However, test results at the school level are subject to random fluctuations due to changes in cohort, test items, and other factors outside of the school's control. This study examined year to year changes in school level results on standardized tests delivered in Ontario, Canada. G-theory analyses found that test scores are not stable enough for meaningful conclusions to be made based on year to year changes in school level results. For small and medium sized schools, years of data need to be collected before defensible decisions can be made about trends in test scores. The authors introduce a 'bounce' statistic that provides a simple, easy to interpret measure of test score stability.
Descriptors: Standardized Tests, Foreign Countries, Generalizability Theory, Scores, Test Reliability, Academic Achievement, Statistical Analysis, Grade 3, Grade 6, School Size, Writing Tests, Mathematics Tests, Reading Tests
Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration. Available from: College of Education, University of Saskatchewan. Tel: 306-966-7619; Web site: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjeap/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Grade 3; Primary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A