Return-Path: <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i39I39m00283; Fri, 9 Apr 2004 14:03:09 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 14:03:09 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <SEA2-F57USVXcjL27es00026fa9@hotmail.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Eileen Eckert" <eileeneckert@hotmail.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:491] why "valid and reliable"? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Status: O Content-Length: 1354 Lines: 27 Hi all, As I read the messages concerning "good" assessment and training in good assessment, one unexamined assumption strikes me. Why do we think assessment has to be "valid and reliable" to be good? Why are those the criteria we use? One answer, of course, is political. As Heide Wrigley said in her "Modest Proposal," the U.S. Dept. of Ed. requires that "Assessments for capturing outcomes must be 'valid and reliable.'" (Great article, thanks for recommending it, Marie, and if anyone missed the link in a previous message, it is http://www.sabes.org/resources/adventures/vol11/11wrigley.htm ) But to answer the question, "Why valid and reliable?" with, "Because the DOE says so!" still leaves the question, "Why does the DOE say so?" Where do the concepts of validity and reliability come from and why are they the standard against which assessment must be judged? I think the answer gets to knowledge that educators should have in order to be able to make informed judgments about assessment, and about advocating for better assessment and accountability policy. Anyone want to discuss this basic assumption and where it comes from? Eileen _________________________________________________________________ Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp
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