Abilities

Cross Sources:  Measurement Definition:  Latent traits of performance on a test which are not directly measurable; also used in context of knowledge, skills, and abilities where abilities are a complex set of skills Reference:  Hambleton, R. K., & Swaminathan, H. (1985).

Ability to work in groups

Cross Sources:  Cooperative learning Definition:  Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Reference:  U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement. (1992).

Ability to work independently

Cross Sources:  Workplace skills Definition:  Ability to work as an individual towards the completion of a project, goal, or objective. Reference:

Absolute decision

Cross Sources:  Criterion referenced, Generalizability theory, Relative decision Definition:  Decision based on the absolute level of performance in reference to a criterion; not norm referenced Reference:  Shavelson, R.J., & Webb, N.M. (1991).

Academic program review

Cross Sources:  Evaluation, Accountability Definition:  Periodic peer evaluation of the effectiveness of an educational degree program usually encompassing student learning, faculty research, scholarship, and service, and assessment resources Reference:

Accountability

Cross Sources:  Academic Program review, Accreditation, Assessment, Evaluation, Summative evaluation Definition:  Use of results for program continuance/discontinuance; the public reporting of student, program, or institutional data to justify decisions or policies; using results to determining funding. Reference:

Accreditation

Cross Sources:  Academic Program review, Accountability, Assessment, Evaluation, Summative evaluation Definition:  A certification awarded by an external, recognized organization, that the institution or program meets certain requirements overall, or in a particular discipline Reference:

Achievement

Cross Sources:  Assessment, Higher order and cognitive development, Educational success Definition:  The attainment of new knowledge or understanding as the result of an educational process Reference:

Activity-based costing

Cross Sources:  Accountability Definition:  Processes or activities (which use resource inputs to produce outputs) is one of the operating expenses of a university and must be considered in managerial/funding decisions. Reference:  Balderston, F.E. (1995).

Advanced placement exams

Cross Sources:  Formative assessment Definition:  Test and assessments given at the beginning of an instructional segment to determine to what extent students have already achieved the objectives of the planned instruction, so that they may be place in more advanced course work. Reference:  Linn, R.L., & Gronlund, N.E. (2000).

Affective

Cross Sources:  Cognitive development, Self-concept, Self-esteem Definition:  Any category of feeling, as distinct from cognition or behavior. The display of affect is a set of physical changes, which indicates an emotional state. Reference:  Stratton, P., & Hayes, N. (1993).

Alternate forms

Cross Sources:  Parallel forms Definition:  Two forms of the same test, both of which measure the same construct Reference:  McDonald, R.P. (1999).

Analytical skills

Cross Sources:  Critical thinking Definition:  The ability to discover the underlying structure of an argument, a communication, a problem, or a solution. Reference:

Angoff

Cross Sources:  Angoff modified, Bookmark, Body of Work, Competency, Standard setting Definition:  A standard-setting procedure, which requires participants to review test items and to provide estimation of the proportion of a subpopulation of examinees who would answer the item correctly. Reference:  Cizek, G. J. (1996).

Angoff (modified)

Cross Sources:  Angoff, Bookmark, Body of Work, Competency, Standard setting Definition:  A modification of the Angoff procedure; modified Angoffs often include two or more rounds of ratings Reference:  Cizek, G. J. (1996).

Assessment

Cross Sources:  Evaluation, Accountability, Accreditation, Institutional effectiveness, Institutional research Definition:  The systematic process of determining educational objectives, gathering, using, and analyzing information about student learning outcomes to make decisions about programs, individual student progress, or accountability Reference:  Erwin, T.D. (1991).

Attainment

Cross Sources:  Educational success, Completion Definition:  To gain or accomplish credit or a credential, such as a certificate or degree or educational level. Reference:

Attrition

Cross Sources:  Drop out, Retention, Stop out Definition:  Loss of students through means other than graduation Reference:

Authentic assessment

Cross Sources:  Performance Assessment Definition:  Assessment technique involving the gathering of data though systematic observation of a behavior or process and evaluating that data based on a clearly articulated set of performance criteria to serve as the basis for evaluative judgments Reference:  Berk, R.A. (1986).

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For any comments regarding new terms or suggested definitions for this Dictionary, please write to :   assessment@jmu.edu. Thank you.