Test Theory

Introduction to test theory: the principle of multiple indicators; linear combinations and the notion of a scale; the construction sequence for composite measurement instruments.
The optimisation of the accuracy of measurement: item analysis; true score, measurement error and reliability; assessment of the reliability of measurement; introduction to the generalizability theory; uses of the reliability coefficient.
The optimisation of the validity of measurement: the concept and kinds of validity; approaches to the construct validation; use of multivariate methods in the reliability and validity assessment.
Special applied issues: alternative scoring techniques; test bias; test profiles; ipsative assessment and other special techniques; scale transformation.
Alternatives to the classical test theory: critiques of the classical test theory; introduction to the item response theory; one-, two- and three-parameter models, test score equating, adaptive testing.