This paper describes and compares procedures for estimating the reliability of proficiency tests that are scored with latent structure models. Results suggest that the predictive estimate is the most accurate of the procedures. (Author/BW)

The classical estimate of a binomial probability function is to estimate its mean in the usual manner and to substitute the results in the appropriate expression. Two alternative estimation procedures are described and examined. Emphasis is given to the single administration estimate of the mastery test reliability. (Author/CTM)

Results in the engineering literature on "k out of n system reliability" can be used to characterize tests based on estimates of the probability of correctly determining whether the examinee knows the correct response. In particular, the minimum number of distractors required for multiple-choice tests can be empirically determined.…

Both the binomial and beta-binomial models are applied to various problems occurring in mental test theory. The paper reviews and critiques these models. The emphasis is on the extensions of the models that have been proposed in recent years, and that might not be familiar to many educators. (Author)

Several Bayesian approaches to the simultaneous estimation of the means of k binomial populations are discussed. This has particular applicability to criterion-referenced or mastery testing. (Author/JKS)

Wilcox (1977) examines two methods of estimating the probability of a false-positive on false-negative decision with a mastery test. Both procedures make assumptions about the form of the true score distribution which might not give good results in all situations. In this paper, upper and lower bounds on the two possible error types are described…

A procedure for determining the reliability of an examinee knowing k out of n possible multiple choice items given his or her performance on those items is presented. Also, a scoring procedure for determining which items an examinee knows is presented. (Author/JKS)

The problem of determining an optimal passing score for a mastery test is discussed, when the purpose of the test is to predict success on an external criterion. For the case of constant losses for the two possible error types, a method for determining passing scores is derived. (Author/JKS)

False-positive and false-negative decisions are the two possible errors committed with a mastery test; yet the estimation of the likelihood of committing these errors has not been investigated. Two methods of this type of estimation are presented and discussed. (Author/JKS)

For some situations the beta-binomial distribution might be used to describe the marginal distribution of test scores for a particular population of examinees. Several different methods of approximating the maximum likelihood estimate were investigated, and it was found that the Newton-Raphson method should be used when it yields admissable…

These studies in test adequacy focus on two problems: procedures for estimating reliability, and techniques for identifying ineffective distractors. Fourteen papers are presented on recent advances in measuring achievement (a response to Molenaar); "an extension of the Dirichlet-multinomial model that allows true score and guessing to be…

This document contains three papers from the Methodology Project of the Center for the Study of Evaluation. Methods for characterizing test accuracy are reported in the first two papers. "Bounds on the K Out of N Reliability of a Test, and an Exact Test for Hierarchically Related Items" describes and illustrates how an extension of a…

A closed sequential procedure for estimating true score is proposed for use with answer-until-correct tests. The accuracy of determining true score is the same as in conventional sequential solutions, but the possibility of using an unnecessarily large number of items is eliminated. (Author/CM)

Mastery tests are analyzed in terms of the number of skills to be mastered and the number of items per skill, in order that correct decisions of mastery or nonmastery will be made to a desired degree of probability. It is assumed that a random sample of skills will be selected for measurement, that each skill will be measured by the same number of…