Validity and Test Use, An International Dialogue on Educational Assessment, Accountability and Equity

This work questions the validity issues surrounding educational assessment programs and their appropriate uses in applied contexts. The authors break new ground in terms of validity theory and practice, offering recommendations, frameworks and assessment solutions that are broadly applicable in different regions.

This book is international in its representation and scope, and represents a dialogue among prominent technical and non-technical stakeholders of assessment programs seeking solutions to persistent and emerging validity problems world-wide.

Highlights

• breaks new ground by examining validity issues in international "high-stakes" test use contexts
• represents a dialogue among international stakeholders of assessment programs, including recognized experts in measurement and evaluation, education, and policy
• provides recommendations, frameworks and technical solutions to persistent and emerging validity challenges

Chapters discuss the social consequences of validity oversights in high stakes testing, evaluation and accountability contexts. Questions addressed include:

   i. Do validity issues arise due to the technical complexities in assessment programs today, or a lack of awareness and inattention to technical limitations of assessment instruments by users?

   ii. Is there a communication divide between educational policy-makers and measurement professionals that is obstructing more valid use of educational assessments and other forms of data?

Authors

The prominent authors, representing voices of educational policy-makers, leaders, and recognized experts in educational measurement and evaluation from around the world, describe assessment programs in their regions, and appraise the conditions and factors that could enhance valid, equitable or fair assessment practices.

Contributing authors include Michael T. Kane, Michael J. Feuer and Adrie Visscher, as well as Edmund W. Gordon, Sebastien Georges, Hans Wagemaker and Haniza Yon amongst others.

Read the Foreword and discover why we need an international dialogue on validity and test use.

View the Table of Contents and full list of contributing authors.

Readership

An essential reference handbook for all involved in educational assessment programs.