What are the steps in the test construction process? Which step in your opinion is the most important? Why?
Let's take a closer look.
1. What are the steps in the test construction process? Which step in your opinion is the most important? Why?
I located an excellent resources (see excerpt below) that details the following steps involved in the test construction process:
1) Test Conceptualization: Specification of Test Purpose
2) Test Construction: Item Generation
3) Item Tryout
4) Item Analysis: Quantitative or Qualitative
5) Test Revision. (http://www2.csusm.edu/gonzalez/psyc402/Test%20Construction%20Handot%20Spring%202002.htm)
The following excerpt details each of these steps, which are all important to the final product. However, perhaps the first step is most important as it determines and guides the rest of the process.
Basic Steps in Test Construction
1. Test Conceptualization: Specification of Test Purpose
a) Specify the objective of the test
What is the goal of testing?
The purpose of the test ought to be guided by an explicit or implicit theory that links the test and the construct.
e.g., Developing a test that measures procrastination in college students.
b) Define the attribute
What is the construct that you are measuring?
Operational definition - provide an objective and measurable definition of the construct.
e.g., Procrastination is avoidance behavior based on feelings and thoughts of the fear of failure.
c) Identify the subject population
Which is the group on which you will develop the test?
e.g., College students.
d) Review of the literature
What is the previous research on the construct?
If no previous studies exist, then describe observations of the behavior.
Discusses the steps in the test construction process, and which step might be considered the most important and why.