Accuracy and Error

The authors of your textbook state that “all tests and scores are imperfect and are subject to error” (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010). What do they mean by this? Why is it important to recognize that there is no “perfect test”? Knowing this, what can you do to ensure that you obtain the most accurate assessment results as possible?

I think that the authors mean that everyone is human and when we do something we are likely to make mistakes or errors. It is very important to realize that there is no perfect test, and once we do then we can look for the degree error. “Just as you can expect to make scoring errors, you can expect to make errors in test construction.” No test you construct will be ever so perfect; in fact these imperfect tests will include inappropriate, invalid or otherwise deficient items” (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010 p.227). I remember reading in the beginning of this book that “there can be no one size fits all test or assessments” (p. 6). Knowing this I think that it is the responsibility of the teacher to take his/her time when they are making a test. I know that there will be mistakes because no one is perfect. The teacher can use assessments to help them as well as the children. The assessments can help the teachers find the students weaknesses and strengths. This can help the teachers help the children prepare for testing. There are four categories that errors are put in to: errors with the test takers, errors with the test, errors with the test administrator, and error with scoring. I think only way to I get the most accurate assessment results are to give the students one test. Having a second test will cause the children to make more errors. In conclusion I think that it is a learning process and that the teacher and the student will learn if they work together.