The Myth of Achievement Tests

The Myth of Achievement Tests
Author: James J. Heckman
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 469
Release: 2014-01-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 022610012X

Achievement tests play an important role in modern societies. They are used to evaluate schools, to assign students to tracks within schools, and to identify weaknesses in student knowledge. The GED is an achievement test used to grant the status of high school graduate to anyone who passes it. GED recipients currently account for 12 percent of all high school credentials issued each year in the United States. But do achievement tests predict success in life? The Myth of Achievement Tests shows that achievement tests like the GED fail to measure important life skills. James J. Heckman, John Eric Humphries, Tim Kautz, and a group of scholars offer an in-depth exploration of how the GED came to be used throughout the United States and why our reliance on it is dangerous. Drawing on decades of research, the authors show that, while GED recipients score as well on achievement tests as high school graduates who do not enroll in college, high school graduates vastly outperform GED recipients in terms of their earnings, employment opportunities, educational attainment, and health. The authors show that the differences in success between GED recipients and high school graduates are driven by character skills. Achievement tests like the GED do not adequately capture character skills like conscientiousness, perseverance, sociability, and curiosity. These skills are important in predicting a variety of life outcomes. They can be measured, and they can be taught. Using the GED as a case study, the authors explore what achievement tests miss and show the dangers of an educational system based on them. They call for a return to an emphasis on character in our schools, our systems of accountability, and our national dialogue. Contributors Eric Grodsky, University of Wisconsin–Madison Andrew Halpern-Manners, Indiana University Bloomington Paul A. LaFontaine, Federal Communications Commission Janice H. Laurence, Temple University Lois M. Quinn, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Pedro L. Rodríguez, Institute of Advanced Studies in Administration John Robert Warren, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Achievement Testing

Achievement Testing
Author: Isaac I. Bejar
Publisher: SAGE Publications, Incorporated
Total Pages: 96
Release: 1983-09
Genre: Education
ISBN:

A book which summarizes many of the recent advances in the theory and practice of achievement testing, in the light of technological developments, and developments in psychometric and psychological theory. It provides an introduction to the two major psychometric models, item response theory and generalizability theory, and assesses their strengths for different applications. The book closes with some speculations about the future of achievement tests for the assessment of individuals, as well as monitoring of educational progress. `...the book contains valuable information for both beginners and for advanced workers who want an overview of recent work in achievement testing.' -- The Journal of the American Statistical A

Improving Indicators of the Quality of Science and Mathematics Education in Grades K-12

Improving Indicators of the Quality of Science and Mathematics Education in Grades K-12
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 231
Release: 1988-02-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0309037409

This book presents a carefully developed monitoring system to track the progress of mathematics and science education, particularly the effects of ongoing efforts to improve students' scientific knowledge and mathematics competency. It describes an improved series of indicators to assess student learning, curriculum quality, teaching effectiveness, student behavior, and financial and leadership support for mathematics and science education. Of special interest is a critical review of current testing methods and their use in probing higher-order skills and evaluating educational quality.

Assessment of Student Achievement

Assessment of Student Achievement
Author: Gavin T. L. Brown
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 161
Release: 2017-07-20
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1351667122

Assessment is a concept familiar across the field of education and is inherent to the work of professors, administrators, teachers, researchers, journalists, and scholars. A multifaceted and politically charged topic, assessment ranges from informal interactions with learners in classrooms to systematic high-stakes testing and examination. Written by a leading expert on assessment, this book situates the topic within the broader context of educational psychology research and theory and brings it to a wider audience. With chapters on the fundamentals of assessment, explanations of its uses, and advice for best application, this concise volume is designed for any education course that includes assessment in the curriculum. It will be indispensable for student researchers and both pre- and in-service teachers alike.

The Achievement Test Desk Reference

The Achievement Test Desk Reference
Author: Dawn P. Flanagan
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 520
Release: 2006-06-30
Genre: Education
ISBN:

The Second Edition of this critically acclaimed reference features the most up-to-date versions of assessment instruments to measure individual achievement and learning disabilities. The authors' pragmatic approach offers practitioners an innovative, systematic assessment framework that applies Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) cognitive theory and blends cognitive testing and Response-to-Intervention (RTI) methods into one seamless process for diagnosing learning disabilities. Replete with case studies, checklists, and worksheets, this reference assists practitioners in choosing appropriate tests, organizing comprehensive assessments, and interpreting results using a cross-battery approach. This reference concludes with fifteen appendices providing practitioners with a host of useful information and tools, including reproducible worksheets, conversion tables, and learning disability resources. Grounded in CHC theory and a cross-battery approach to assessment, this is an essential resource for school psychologists and other practitioners who need to assess learning disabilities.

Handbook of Psychoeducational Assessment

Handbook of Psychoeducational Assessment
Author:
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 541
Release: 2001-04-17
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0080533809

The Handbook of Psychoeducational Assessment is a practical guide for educational and psychological professionals using norm-referenced tests in the ability, achievement, and behavioral assessment of children. Written by key individuals involved in the construction and evolution of the most widely used tests, this book provides critical information on the nature and scope of commonly used tests, their reliability and validity, administration, scoring and interpretation, and on how the tests may differ and complement each other in their utility with specific populations. Part 1 of the Handbook of Psychoeducational Assessment focuses on ability assessment and the use of full battery intelligence tests as well as brief scales and short forms. Part 2 discusses achievement and the expanded role of psychologists in consultation with educators. Part 3 covers behavior assessment with special attention given to discussion of which tests are most suitable for assessing specific behavioral problems such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The final section recognizes the importance of context and person sensitive assessment practices, discussing cross-cultural assessment, neuropsychological assessment, and the usefulness of dynamic assessment for program planning and intervention delivery. Key Features: - Covers the most commonly used and newest assessment instruments - Describes the nature, scope, reliability, and validity of each test - Discusses the administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests - Provides empirical findings on patterns of performance with tested populations - Includes case studies to highlight the utility of specific tests for specific populations - Illustrates new developments in instrumentation and unique features - Covers the most commonly used and newest assessment instruments - Describes the nature, scope, reliability, and validity of each test - Discusses the administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests - Provides empirical findings on patterns of performance with tested populations - Includes case studies to highlight the utility of specific tests for specific populations - Illustrates new developments in instrumentation and unique features

Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development
Author: Sam Goldstein
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2010-11-23
Genre: Education
ISBN: 038777579X

This reference work breaks new ground as an electronic resource. Utterly comprehensive, it serves as a repository of knowledge in the field as well as a frequently updated conduit of new material long before it finds its way into standard textbooks.