CPS Assessment & Evaluation Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school psychologist is selecting a norm-referenced test for a 10-year-old. The test manual reports a reliability coefficient of .72. How should this be interpreted?
- The test is highly reliable and appropriate for high-stakes decisions
- The reliability is marginally acceptable; caution is needed for individual decisions (Correct answer)
- The test is unreliable and should not be used in any school setting
- Reliability coefficients are irrelevant for norm-referenced tests
Correct answer: The reliability is marginally acceptable; caution is needed for individual decisions
Reliability coefficients below .80 are generally considered marginal for individual decision-making, requiring supplemental data.
Question 2: Which type of validity evidence is gathered by examining the degree to which test scores correlate with scores on an established measure of the same construct?
- Content validity
- Convergent validity (Correct answer)
- Discriminant validity
- Face validity
Correct answer: Convergent validity
Convergent validity is demonstrated when a new test correlates highly with an existing measure of the same construct.
Question 3: A student scores at the 63rd percentile on a reading test. Which statement best describes this result?
- The student answered 63% of items correctly
- The student scored higher than 63% of the normative sample (Correct answer)
- The student is performing 63% above grade level
- The student's standard score is 63
Correct answer: The student scored higher than 63% of the normative sample
A percentile rank indicates the percentage of individuals in the norm group who scored at or below a given score.
Question 4: Which assessment approach involves systematically recording the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences to understand the function of a behavior?
- Curriculum-based measurement
- ABC analysis (Correct answer)
- Rating scale administration
- Portfolio assessment
Correct answer: ABC analysis
ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) analysis is a structured direct observation method used in functional behavioral assessment.
Question 5: Dynamic assessment is most distinct from traditional standardized testing in that it:
- Uses norm-referenced scoring exclusively
- Measures a student's response to instruction or mediation during the evaluation (Correct answer)
- Relies solely on parent and teacher interviews
- Emphasizes summative rather than formative data
Correct answer: Measures a student's response to instruction or mediation during the evaluation
Dynamic assessment incorporates a test-teach-retest format to evaluate learning potential and zone of proximal development.
Question 6: In the context of Response to Intervention (RTI), universal screening data are PRIMARILY used to:
- Diagnose specific learning disabilities
- Identify students at risk who may need additional support (Correct answer)
- Replace comprehensive psychological evaluations
- Determine special education eligibility
Correct answer: Identify students at risk who may need additional support
Universal screening identifies students who may be at risk for academic or behavioral difficulties so that early intervention can be provided.
Question 7: A test with high specificity correctly identifies:
- True positives — students who have the disorder
- True negatives — students who do not have the disorder (Correct answer)
- All students regardless of disorder status
- Students whose scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean
Correct answer: True negatives — students who do not have the disorder
Specificity refers to a test's ability to correctly identify individuals who do not have the condition (true negatives).
CPS Assessment & Evaluation Methods 2
A school psychologist is selecting a norm-referenced test for a 10-year-old.
The test manual reports a reliability coefficient of .72.
How should this be interpreted?