Unit9Assign

Final Analysis of a Selected Test

Resources

Final Analysis of a Selected Test Scoring Guide.

The Meaning of Synthesis.

APA Writing Feedback Rubric [PDF].

Academic Integrity and Honesty [PDF].

PSY7610 Library Research Guide.

Annotated Bibliography.

APA Style and Format.

Plagiarism in Coursework.

Learner Guide to APA Writing Feedback Rubric [PDF].

Turnitin.

This assignment is a culmination of the previous assignments you have completed during this course. In this assignment, you will synthesize your previous research as well as conduct research on the final element in the Code, Element 9. Element 9 states that a test user, “evaluate(s) the available evidence on the performance of test takers of diverse subgroups . . . determine(s) to the extent feasible which performance differences may have been caused by factors unrelated to the skills being assessed.” Together, the previous course assignments and this current one involving Element 9 will provide you with the data, research, and literature reviews across all nine elements of the Code to assist your decision-making process about the appropriate selection of a test.

For this final assignment:

Locate reviews or research related to how Element 9 applies to your selected test. If the research or reviews do not address this element in any way, then you will need to cite the references your reviewed and note that they were lacking in in addressing this element, drawing appropriate conclusions for when a test is lacking such evidence.

Synthesize all of the data and information you gathered on your selected test throughout the course and identify highlights, both positive and negative, both advantages and disadvantages, according to all nine elements of the Code.

Evaluate your selected test based on these data and draw a conclusion about whether or not it is a test that you would select, recommend, or even defend, if necessary in practice. Note: You should not merely copy and paste your earlier assignments for the final paper. Instead you will be synthesizing the research you completed for each element into a summary of that element that you will offer in support of your final evaluation. (For example, note that the technical quality element (that is, Element 5) will be only a synthesis and evaluation and not a repeat of the annotated bibliography you completed in Unit 5.)

Identify the strengths or weaknesses for each element, and determine if the information about that element supports (or opposes) the use of your selected test in the field and population to be served.

Incorporate recommendations about ways to improve the selected test.

Review all of your evaluations for each element and recommended improvements to the test, and write an overall evaluation and determination about the use of your selected test. Would you recommend this test to a school district or business that you are employed as a consultant? Would you be able to defend the use of this test in a court proceeding?

Organize your paper using the following headings:

Title page (required) (one page).

Abstract (required) (one page).

The Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education (a minimum of four pages). (For each element, identify strengths and weaknesses, evaluate the selected test for the element, and make recommendations, if any for improvement, citing appropriate standards of practice.)

Element 1. Purpose: Define the purpose for testing, the content, and skills tested (see Unit 2 assignment).

Element 2. Appropriateness: Evaluate appropriateness of test content, skills tested, and content covered (see Unit 2 assignment).

Element 3. Materials: Evaluate materials for which clear, accurate, and complete information is provided (see Unit 2 assignment).

Element 4. Training: Test users have appropriate knowledge, skills, and training (see Unit 2 assignment).

Element 5. Technical Quality:

Synthesis of evidence of reliability (see Unit 5 assignment).

Synthesis of evidence of validity (see Unit 5 assignment).

Element 6. Test Items and Format: Evaluate test items, test format, directions, manuals and scores (see Unit 7 assignment).

Element 7. Test Procedures and Materials: Evaluate test procedures and materials to ensure that potentially offensive content or language is avoided (see Unit 7 assignment).

Element 8. Modifications and Accommodations: Evaluate if tests provide appropriately modified forms or procedures for test takers with disabilities (see Unit 7 assignment).

Element 9. Group Differences: Evaluate evidence on performance of test takers of diverse subgroups.

Summary (two pages).

Overall recommendation to use the selected test in the field and with populations to be served.

If recommending the use of the selected test, identify the greatest strengths you discovered and determined in its use. Additionally, identify any limitations or concerns that may still exist with its use regardless of the recommendation. Are there still concerns for the test in certain situations?

If not recommending the use of the selected test, identify the greatest weaknesses you discovered and determined in its use. Additionally, identify any strengths that may still exist with its use regardless of the opposition. Are there still uses for the test within set parameters?

References (required, use current APA format and style).

Submit your draft to Turnitin prior to uploading it to the assignment area.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

References: A minimum of nine references. These may include journal articles, literature reviews, Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY) reviews, and publisher Web sites. At least five of the nine references must be from professional journals. It is likely and appropriate that many of these references and citations were included in one or more of your previous assignments. Alternatively, you may want to supplement your paper with current, peer-viewed journal articles you located after completing an earlier assignment. Those inclusions would also be acceptable.

Length of paper: At least six pages (not including title page, abstract, or references).

Note: The articles you need to complete this assignment should be available inside the library collection. In future courses, you may use the library’s Interlibrary Loan service to obtain articles outside of the collection, but you should not have to use the service for PSY7610. In the event that you cannot find articles covering a newer test edition, please refer to the List of Tests by Type in the Resources area. Note which tests have been designated as acceptable for searching prior test editions.

Reference

Joint Committee on Testing Practices. (2004). Code of fair testing practices in education. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/science/programs/testing/fair-testing.pdf

Note: Your instructor may also use the APA Writing Feedback Rubric to provide additional feedback on your academic writing. The writing feedback rubric does not affect your assignment grade, but its feedback may factor into the grading criteria, if professional communication and writing is a course competency. Evaluate your own work using this rubric. Refer to the Learner Guide for instructions on viewing instructor feedback.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

• Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
• Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
• One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
• I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

Weekly Participation

• Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
• In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
• Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
• Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

APA Format and Writing Quality

• Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
• Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
• I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

Use of Direct Quotes

• I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
• As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
• It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

 

LopesWrite Policy

• For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
• Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
• Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
• Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

Late Policy

• The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
• Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
• If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
• I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
• As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

Communication

• Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
  • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
  • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.

Academic Integrity and Honesty

Academic Integrity and Honesty