Guide to Test Development: A General Procedures Manual for the North Carolina Test Development Program.

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234

Researchers

Achievement Tests; Curriculum Development; Educational Objectives; Elementary Secondary Education; Item Analysis; Psychometrics; State Programs; Test Construction; Test Manuals; Testing Programs

This procedures manual for the North Carolina Test Development Program details the tasks involved in test development. The basic steps are described in an introductory section; they are (1) to specify the institutional objectives of the curriculum and ensure their instructional validity; and (2) to specify the characteristics, such as the purpose and time-constraints, of the test. The second chapter concerns writing the test items and conducting item content validity and content bias analyses to determine which items to keep. The next chapter is devoted to examining item psychometrics, which involves testing items and analyzing and revising them. The fourth chapter, on constructing tests, describes: (1) asembling the tests; (2) constructing the consensual validity and standards analyses; and (3) "testing" the test through pilot administration. Finally, a section on analyzing usage results discusses: (1) administering the test; (2) analyzing the posttest data; and (3) planning for new editions. Eight appendices comprising the greater part of the document include: a detailed list of test development procedures; a Curriculum Survey Form; a Sample Item Specification Form; the script for the audiovisual presentation "How to Write Multiple-Choice Achievement Items," with three work packets, and a sample Item Specification sheet; the text of the booklet "Instructions for Item Review of Achievement Test Items" with a sample item record for item review; a sample item record with all data included; sample test review instructions and questionnaires; and the technical manual for the North Carolina Test of Algebra 1 as a sample. (SLD)

1990

ED314457