Week 2: Statistical Concepts
A student returning to school after many years found out that she had missed the deadlines for the GRE, and the only option left was to take the MAT (Miller Analogies Test). With no knowledge about it, she signed up on Thursday to take the test on Monday. On Monday, she was presented with 120 incomplete analogies and was given approximately one hour to solve them. Two weeks later, she was sent the results and she almost passed out – her scores were so low! A score of high 50 was unacceptable – she panicked, not knowing what to do. She called the grad school offices to see if there was some other way she could test into the program, or to increase her chances of being accepted. She was told that her scores were adequate and that she had been accepted. Confused, she Googled “MAT average scores” and found out that the average score to get into MENSA was a 66!
Any score on an instrument is difficult to understand and interpret without accurate information. The information needed is sorted into several separate categories that give us the ability to make decisions using data. We will review those categories in chapter 3, and they are listed in the objectives for this week. The field of testing and measurement is based on several core statistical principles that allow us to summarize, describe, and interpret assessment data so that we can make conclusions using the data that results from assessments taken by our clients. By understanding those basic principles, we are able to serve our clients to our best potential, thereby acting ethically and legally to the trust granted us by our clients.
Session Objectives
By the end of this week, you will:
- Define assessment
- Describe and list the steps in the assessment process
- Describe the competencies necessary for effective use of assessment instruction
- Identify and describe data collection methods
- Describe the initial interview and explain its purpose in the assessment process
- Understand multicultural sources of test bias
- Describe issues involved in the use of standardizes testing with diverse populations
- Describe ethical principles and other issues relevant to multicultural assessment
Tips and Reminders
If you have not already done so, please log into ISIS (http://isis.jhu.edu) to ensure the address you have on file is current because that is where the testing materials for the course will be sent. You will be receiving the testing materials in Week 4.
