RELIABILITY OF CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTS: A DECISION-THEORETIC FORMULATION

It has been suggested that the primary purpose for criterion-referenced testing in objective-based instructional programs is to classify examinees into mastery states or categories on the objectives included in the test. We have proposed that the reliability of the criterion-referenced test scores be defined in terms of the consistency of the decision-making process across repeated administrations of the test. Specifically, reliability is defined as a measure of agreement over and above that which can be expected by chance between the decisions made about examinee mastery states in repeated test administrations for each objective measured by the criterion-referenced test.     

Review of Research on Practicum Supervision

This five-year review of research on practicum supervision examines research findings and research designs. Research is classified according to the role of the supervisor, the training procedure, and the rating systems. The major focus of research has been on training in the core conditions of facilitative communication. Modeling techniques have been used effectively in practicum, didactic approaches have been more effective than experiential approaches, and audiotape procedures in training were as effective as videotape techniques.