CRI Assessment & Evaluation Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student claims they lost concentration during a test due to background noise. Which assessment principle should guide the CRI's response?
- Accept the explanation and regrade on a curve
- Evaluate whether test conditions met standardized environmental requirements before deciding on a retest (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the concern since professional reporters must handle noise
- Give the student full credit for the attempt regardless of score
Correct answer: Evaluate whether test conditions met standardized environmental requirements before deciding on a retest
Standardized conditions are part of valid assessment; if conditions were not met, a retest under proper conditions may be warranted.
Question 2: Which feedback delivery method is most likely to promote a growth mindset in a struggling reporter student?
- Marking only final scores on returned transcripts without explanation
- Providing specific, process-focused feedback that identifies what the student did well and what strategies to try next (Correct answer)
- Comparing the student's performance unfavorably to top performers in the class
- Delaying all feedback until the end of the term
Correct answer: Providing specific, process-focused feedback that identifies what the student did well and what strategies to try next
Process-focused, specific feedback reinforces effort and strategy over innate ability, which is the foundation of a growth mindset.
Question 3: When evaluating a student's dictionary-building choices during a take, a CRI is assessing which competency?
- Finger dexterity and stroke speed
- Theory application and personal shorthand decision-making (Correct answer)
- Reading comprehension of the source material
- Ability to use CAT software post-dictation
Correct answer: Theory application and personal shorthand decision-making
Dictionary-building decisions reflect the student's application of steno theory and their judgment about efficient, accurate brief creation.
Question 4: A CRI notices that a student's accuracy drops significantly on takes administered later in a three-hour class session. This pattern most likely indicates:
- The student has inadequate steno theory knowledge
- Fatigue-related performance decline that should be addressed through stamina-building exercises and pacing strategies (Correct answer)
- The dictation speed is too slow for the student
- The student is not practicing outside of class
Correct answer: Fatigue-related performance decline that should be addressed through stamina-building exercises and pacing strategies
Fatigue-related accuracy decline is a known issue in stenography training and requires both physical conditioning and strategic pacing.
Question 5: Which evaluation criterion is MOST important when assessing a student's untranslate rate?
- Whether the untranslates appear in legal or literary material
- Whether the untranslates reflect a pattern of missing briefs or theory gaps that can be remediated (Correct answer)
- Whether the student can explain each untranslate verbally after the test
- Whether the student's speed dropped below target during the take
Correct answer: Whether the untranslates reflect a pattern of missing briefs or theory gaps that can be remediated
Pattern analysis of untranslates distinguishes isolated gaps from systemic theory problems, guiding targeted remediation.
Question 6: According to best practices in CRI instruction, how often should a student receive formal evaluation of their accuracy and speed progress?
- Once per semester in a final exam only
- Regularly throughout the course with documented results to allow timely instructional adjustments (Correct answer)
- Only when the student self-reports difficulty
- Annually during program-wide standardized testing windows
Correct answer: Regularly throughout the course with documented results to allow timely instructional adjustments
Regular, documented evaluation enables the instructor to identify stalls, adjust pacing, and intervene before small gaps become entrenched problems.
Question 7: A CRI is developing a new assessment to evaluate student readiness for externship placement. Which validity evidence is most critical to gather first?
- Evidence that the test is popular with students
- Evidence that the assessment tasks directly reflect the skills required in actual externship settings (Correct answer)
- Evidence that the test can be completed in under 30 minutes
- Evidence that the test uses the same format as previous assessments
Correct answer: Evidence that the assessment tasks directly reflect the skills required in actual externship settings
Content validity requires that the assessment tasks align with the real-world demands of the externship environment.
CRI Assessment & Evaluation Techniques 5
A student claims they lost concentration during a test due to background noise.
Which assessment principle should guide the CRI's response?