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On the Validity of Essay Tests of Achievement

Author(s):
Coffman, William E.
Publication Year:
1966
Report Number:
RM-66-02
Source:
ETS Research Memorandum
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
16
Subject/Key Words:
College Board, Achievement Tests, Essay Tests, Holistic Evaluation, Predictive Validity, Test Reliability, Test Validity

Abstract

It is argued that whenever the items in an achievement test may be considered a representative sample of the criterion performance, the validity of the test may be estimated by applying the correction for attenuation. The implications are set forth using data from an empirical study to establish anchor points and developing estimates of the reading reliability, score reliability, and validity of essay scores based on different combinations of topics and readers.

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