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Maximizing Test Validity by Item Selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Harold Webster
Harold Webster*
Affiliation:
Mellon Foundation Vassar College
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Abstract

The exact condition for discarding k items from a test in order to obtain a residual test with higher validity is derived. A proof that validity always increases is given for the case k = 1. The lack of uniqueness of maximum validity when achieved by use of the condition is discussed. With the use of additional restrictions on items to be included in the initial test, a practical test construction procedure which has several advantages over previous methods is developed. The homogeneity of tests constructed by the method is discussed, and applications are given.

Information

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , June 1956 , pp. 153 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © 1956 The Psychometric Society

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