Threshold Loss Agreement Indices for Criterion-Referenced Measures: A Review of Applications and Interpretations

Abstract

The characteristics of three threshold loss agreement indices which reflect the agreement or consistency in assignment to mastery-nonmastery status are reviewed. Special consideration is given to the conditions that determine when proportion of agreement, coefficient kappa or modified kappa is the most appropriate index to use. When marginal proportions are “fixed” and adjustment for chance agreement is desired, coefficient kappa may be appropriate. However, indices of marginal asymmetry and confidence limits should be reported along with kappa. When marginal proportions are “free” to vary, it is suggested that kappa be modified by defining chance agreement as 1/q, whereq is the number of categories. Examples of all indices are illustrated with synthetic data.