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Validity Evidence to Support the Revision of a Licensure Assessment for Secondary School Social Studies Teachers: A Job-Analytic Approach TExES

Author(s):
Swiggett, Wanda D.; Tannenbaum, Richard J.
Publication Year:
2011
Report Number:
RM-11-13
Source:
ETS Research Memorandum
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
43
Subject/Key Words:
Job Analysis, Licensure, Certification, Secondary Social Studies, Validity, Praxis, Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)

Abstract

A job analysis was conducted to define knowledge/skills important for entry-level secondary school social studies teachers. The results will be used to guide the development of new test content specifications for the Praxis Social Studies Series. A draft domain was constructed from professional standards (National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS], 2006), existing test specifications from the various titles in the Praxis Social Studies Series and the TExES Social Studies 8–12 test, and feedback from item writers and reviewers. A national advisory committee (NAC) of secondary social studies teachers and college faculty reviewed and modified the draft domain to reflect the knowledge/skills they believed were important for safe and effective practice and were needed at time of entry into the profession. The revised domain consisted of 103 statements clustered within seven major categories: (a) United States History, (b) World History, (c) Government/Civics/Political Science, (d) Social Studies Pedagogy, (e) Economics, (f) Geography, and (g) Behavioral Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology). Survey responses of 231 secondary social studies educators provided independent evidence of the importance of the domain. Respondents judged each knowledge/skill statement on a scale ranging from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (extremely important). Ninety-eight knowledge/skill statements had mean ratings above 3.50 in the aggregate sample and for subgroups containing more than 30 respondents. These results indicate that 98 statements may be considered appropriate for guiding the development of new test content specifications for the Praxis Social Studies Series.

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