The Importance of Validity in a Reading Test

The importance of a sound test cannot be overstated. A good test should be free of any form of distortion or bias. Conforming a test to a certain degree of validness and reliability is the only way of ridding a test of bias and distortion. Nevertheless, even if a test conforms to reliability, it may not give a valid measure (Evers and Walberg, 2004). Take into consideration a bathroom scale that consistently tells the owner that he weighs 130 pounds. The consistency of this instrument is perfect but not accurate since the owner actually weighs 150 pounds.

School districts, parents and teachers with reference to assessments make decisions like grades, graduation and promotion. With that in mind, the validity obtained from assessments is paramount-with higher importance than reliability. In addition, a test that is valid is most likely to be valid, the vice versa is not true. Below are more characteristics of validity with reference to a test:

1. Validity will inform the tutor if the achievements of the student match up to the requirements.
2. It gives meaning to the results. It shows a direct linkage between student understanding and test performance. It offers the teacher an ability to make predictions about the student from their scores. For instance, a teacher can conclude that a student who performs badly needs extra attention or else they will be weaker in their next classes. In simple words, it indicates the usefulness of the test.

Content, criterion and construct are the elements that determine the validity of a test. A test has to cover every single element the students learnt in a specific testing period.

References

Evers, W. M., & Walberg, H. J. (2004). Testing student learning, evaluating teaching effectiveness. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press.