TitleThe effect of including pretest items in an operational computerized adaptive test: Do different ability examinees spend different amounts of time on embedded pretest items?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsFerdous, AA, Plake, BS, Chang, S-R
JournalEducational Assessment
Volume12
Number2
Pagination161-173
Publication Languageeng
ISBN Number1062-7197 (Print); 1532-6977 (Electronic)
Accession Number2007-06685-003
Keywordsability, operational computerized adaptive test, pretest items, time
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pretest items on response time in an operational, fixed-length, time-limited computerized adaptive test (CAT). These pretest items are embedded within the CAT, but unlike the operational items, are not tailored to the examinee's ability level. If examinees with higher ability levels need less time to complete these items than do their counterparts with lower ability levels, they will have more time to devote to the operational test questions. Data were from a graduate admissions test that was administered worldwide. Data from both quantitative and verbal sections of the test were considered. For the verbal section, examinees in the lower ability groups spent systematically more time on their pretest items than did those in the higher ability groups, though for the quantitative section the differences were less clear. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)