Question 1

Norm-referenced instruments are to criterion-referenced instruments as: ​
A)mastery is to teacher constructed.
B)reliability is to validity.
C)good is to bad.
D)group comparison is to individual level of performance.

Accepted Answer

Norm-referenced instruments compare an individual's performance to a group, while criterion-referenced instruments measure an individual's performance against a predefined criterion or standard, focusing on what the individual can do, not how they compare to others.

Question 2

Ranking your classmates on their performance on an exam is an example of what type of scale? ​
A)Nominal
B)Ordinal ​
C)Interval
D)Ratio

Accepted Answer

Ranking involves ordering entities based on some criterion, which aligns with the characteristics of an ordinal scale. It does not provide information on the magnitude of difference between ranks, unlike interval or ratio scales, and it involves more than just categorization, which is the hallmark of nominal scales.

Question 3

A frequency polygon is a: ​
A)statistical test of significance.
B)representation of grade equivalent scores. ​
C)graphic representation of the frequency of scores. ​
D)graph of the validity evidence for an instrument. ​

Accepted Answer

A frequency polygon is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of a set of data points, or scores, across different intervals or categories, making it easier to see the shape of the distribution and identify patterns.

Question 4

A normalized distribution of scores has: ​
A)a single peak in the center and the same score for the mean, mode, and median.
B)no peak, thus measures of central tendency are not relevant.
C)has two equidistant peaks with the same score for the mean, mode, and median between peaks.
D)a single peak in the center but the scores for the mean, mode, and median can vary.

Accepted Answer

In a normalized (or normal) distribution, also known as a bell curve, there is a single peak in the center, and the mean, mode, and median all have the same value, located at this central peak. This symmetry around the center is a defining characteristic of a normal distribution.

Question 5

An academic achievement test is developed to measure mastery of a multiplication table.  Mastery is defined as getting 100% of the multiplication items correct.  This instrument is an example of a: ​
A)norm-referenced test.
B)criterion-referenced test.
C)standardized test.
D)performance test.

Accepted Answer

This instrument is an example of a criterion-referenced test because it measures a student's performance against a specific standard or criterion (in this case, mastery of the multiplication table, defined as getting 100% of the items correct), rather than comparing scores to the performance of a norm group.

Question 6

The correct order of the following scales of measurement, from least precise to most precise, is: ​
A)ordinal, nominal interval, ratio.
B)nominal, interval, ordinal, ratio.
C)ordinal, nominal, ratio, interval.
D)nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio.

Accepted Answer

Nominal scales are the least precise, categorizing data without a specific order. Ordinal scales rank data, but without a consistent scale between ranks. Interval scales have equal intervals between values but no true zero point. Ratio scales have both equal intervals and a true zero, making them the most precise.

Question 7

Norm-referenced instruments are most useful for: ​
A)determining if an individual has mastered certain material.
B)establishing minimum levels of competence. ​
C)comparing an individual's performance with other individuals.
D)comparing performance to a standard.

Accepted Answer

Norm-referenced instruments are designed to compare and rank test takers in relation to one another. They show how individuals perform in comparison to a norm or average level from a larger group, making option C the correct answer.

Question 8

Which of these constructs can not be measured using a ratio scale? ​
A)Height
B)Temperature ​
C)Number of children in a family
D)Driving speed

Accepted Answer

Temperature cannot be measured using a ratio scale because it does not have a true zero point where the absence of the quantity is indicated (except when using Kelvin, but common scales like Celsius and Fahrenheit do not have this property). Height, the number of children, and driving speed all have true zero points and can be measured on a ratio scale.

Question 9

The most widely used statistic of variability in measurement is the: ​
A)range.
B)semi-interquartile range.
C)standard deviation. ​
D)mean.

Accepted Answer

The standard deviation is the most widely used statistic of variability because it measures the dispersion of a set of values relative to the mean. It is used in various fields to quantify the amount of variation or dispersion of a set of data values.

Question 10

What is the relationship between variance and standard deviation? ​
A)Variance is the square root of standard deviation.
B)Standard deviation is the square root of variance. ​
C)Variance is a type of standard deviation.
D)There is no relationship between variance and standard deviation.

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation is the square root of variance, which means it is derived by taking the square root of the average of the squared differences from the mean.

Question 11

What is one drawback of using the range as a measure of variability? ​
A)It is more difficult to calculate than standard deviation.
B)It can only be meaningfully interpreted by expert clinicians.
C)It is only useful in research applications.
D)It can be significantly influenced by extreme scores.

Accepted Answer

The range, calculated as the difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset, can be disproportionately affected by outliers or extreme scores. This means that a single very high or very low value can dramatically change the range, making it a less reliable measure of variability for datasets with such extreme values.

Question 12

If Sally has a percentile score of 53, you would interpret this score saying that:
A)53 percent of the items were correctly answered.
B)Sally's performance equaled that of 53 percent of the group tested.
C)53 percent of the group tested had a score at or below Sally's.
D)53 percent of the group tested had a score at or above Sally's.

Accepted Answer

A percentile score of 53 means that 53 percent of the group tested had a score at or below Sally's, indicating her performance is better than or equal to 53 percent of the group.

Question 13

If a test taker made a score of 40 on a 100-item test, what interpretation can we make of this score? ​
A)The score lies at the 40th percentile.
B)The test taker did poorly because he or she only got 40% of the items correct. ​
C)The test taker's performance was below the median of the test. ​
D)Nothing can be interpreted without additional information.

Accepted Answer

Without additional information about the distribution of scores, percentiles, or the difficulty of the test, we cannot accurately interpret the significance of a score of 40 out of 100.

Question 14

Which of the following characteristics is NOT true of a nominal scale? ​
A)The intent of a nominal scale is to name an object.
B)It is the most basic of the measurement scales.
C)It is possible to determine the mean of nominally scaled variables. ​
D)It is only possible to calculate the percentage or frequency of items/individuals that fall within a certain category.

Accepted Answer

Nominal scales are used for categorization or naming and do not have a numerical value that allows for the calculation of means. They are used for labeling variables without any quantitative value, making it impossible to determine the mean of nominally scaled variables.

Question 15

In norm-referenced assessment, the word norm refers to: ​
A)the group of individuals who took the instrument, to which others' scores are later compared.
B)the group of individuals who received an average, or normal, score on the instrument. ​
C)the mean score on the instrument. ​
D)the standard deviation of the instrument. ​

Accepted Answer

The term "norm" in norm-referenced assessment refers to the standard or average performance of a group of individuals on a particular assessment instrument. This group's performance is used as a benchmark to interpret the scores of future test-takers.

Question 16

Approximately what percent of the norming group in a normal distribution falls between two standard deviations below the mean and two standard deviations above the mean? ​
A)13.98%
B)68%
C)95%
D)99.5%

Accepted Answer

Approximately 95% of the norming group in a normal distribution falls within two standard deviations below and above the mean, according to the empirical rule.

Question 17

When scores in a distribution are averaged, the statistic is called the: ​
A)mean.
B)mode.
C)median.
D)standard deviation.

Accepted Answer

The mean is the arithmetic average of a set of scores, calculated by adding all the scores together and then dividing by the number of scores.

Question 18

What is the point on the scale that has an equal number of scores above and below it? ​
A)Median
B)Mean
C)Mode
D)Standard deviation

Accepted Answer

The median is the point on a scale that divides a distribution into two equal halves, with an equal number of scores above and below it.

Question 19

In a distribution of scores, what do we call the score that occurs most frequently? ​
A)Mean
B)Mode
C)Median ​
D)Standard deviation

Accepted Answer

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set, making it the correct answer.

Question 20

Interval scales are characterized by: ​
A)rank order data.
B)the ability to determine ratios. ​
C)classification by group. ​
D)equal intervals.

Accepted Answer

Interval scales are characterized by equal intervals between values, allowing for meaningful comparisons of differences.

Quiz 2: Basic Assessment Principles

Norm-referenced instruments are to criterion-referenced instruments as: ​

Ranking your classmates on their performance on an exam is an example of what type of scale? ​

A frequency polygon is a: ​

A normalized distribution of scores has: ​

An academic achievement test is developed to measure mastery of a multiplication table. Mastery is defined as getting 100% of the multiplication items correct. This instrument is an example of a: ​

The correct order of the following scales of measurement, from least precise to most precise, is: ​

Norm-referenced instruments are most useful for: ​

Which of these constructs can not be measured using a ratio scale? ​

The most widely used statistic of variability in measurement is the: ​

What is the relationship between variance and standard deviation? ​

What is one drawback of using the range as a measure of variability? ​

If Sally has a percentile score of 53, you would interpret this score saying that:

If a test taker made a score of 40 on a 100-item test, what interpretation can we make of this score? ​

Which of the following characteristics is NOT true of a nominal scale? ​

In norm-referenced assessment, the word norm refers to: ​

Approximately what percent of the norming group in a normal distribution falls between two standard deviations below the mean and two standard deviations above the mean? ​

When scores in a distribution are averaged, the statistic is called the: ​

What is the point on the scale that has an equal number of scores above and below it? ​

In a distribution of scores, what do we call the score that occurs most frequently? ​

Interval scales are characterized by: ​

Norm-referenced instruments are to criterion-referenced instruments as:

Ranking your classmates on their performance on an exam is an example of what type of scale?

A frequency polygon is a:

A normalized distribution of scores has:

An academic achievement test is developed to measure mastery of a multiplication table. Mastery is defined as getting 100% of the multiplication items correct. This instrument is an example of a:

The correct order of the following scales of measurement, from least precise to most precise, is:

Norm-referenced instruments are most useful for:

Which of these constructs can not be measured using a ratio scale?

The most widely used statistic of variability in measurement is the:

What is the relationship between variance and standard deviation?

What is one drawback of using the range as a measure of variability?

If a test taker made a score of 40 on a 100-item test, what interpretation can we make of this score?

Which of the following characteristics is NOT true of a nominal scale?

In norm-referenced assessment, the word norm refers to:

Approximately what percent of the norming group in a normal distribution falls between two standard deviations below the mean and two standard deviations above the mean?

When scores in a distribution are averaged, the statistic is called the:

What is the point on the scale that has an equal number of scores above and below it?

In a distribution of scores, what do we call the score that occurs most frequently?

Interval scales are characterized by: