Members

Glenn Fulcher, Julie Norton, Agneta Svalberg, Pam Rogerson-Revell,

Scope and purpose

• Share and develop research ideas in the broad area of educational testing, assessment and measurement.
• A forum in which staff and students may share research ideas, and give feedback to each other on works in progress.
• Encourage collaboration with other research groups both within and outwith the School of Education.

Testing, Assessment and Measurement is a special interest research group which has the aim of sharing and developing research ideas in the broad area of educational testing, assessment and measurement. Standardized testing, classroom assessment, and certification are all of interest. Although specific disciplines will be represented (particularly language testing), it is not limited to discipline specific matters.

The group is concerned with the design, delivery and validation of tests and assessments for educational and domain-specific purposes. It is also concerned with the individual, institutional and social impact of test use. Under the heading of 'consequential' validity, this may include concerns with the unintended impact of testing on sub-groups of a test taking population, as well as the washback of test use on teaching and learning.

Another focus will be upon the use of tests, assessments, and other data collection instruments in research. Data is often collected using instruments that have not been appropriately designed or validated for the intended research purpose, leading to poor or misleading inferences from outcomes the constructs of interest. This can lead to making judgments or claims that are unfounded or implausible. The group will look at such issues within the general concept of the validation of inferences, and how this can be carried out in a range of testing, assessment and measurement contexts. Approaches to validation will cover discussion of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies.

Finally, the group is interested in policy and testing, from the use of tests and assessments in accountability, to testing for citizenship and immigration.

More Information

Open to both postgraduate students and staff with an interest in the field, TAMER will provide an intellectual home for all those who wish to further develop a research interest in educational testing and assessment, and research methodology.

Next step: Find out more about special interest groups