The major test components, construction, administration, scoring, and interpretation, are again defined below. Test users are predominantly interested in how they can interpret the data produced by their measurement methods. Nevertheless, that interpretation is linked to how tests are constructed, administered, and scored. Ignorance of these steps opens users to misinterpretations of measurement and assessment data.

Test users should be knowledgeable of these components with each of their measurement methods. Each of these components represent steps in the test usage process that can enhance or subtract from a test’s power to detect a construct of interest.

Table 5

Summary of Test Components

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Construct                   Definition

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Construction              Procedures employed to create a test or other measurement method

Administration            Process by which a test user administers a test that is completed by a test-taker

Scoring                      Method by which test data are assigned to produce a score or category

Interpretation             Placing measurement data in a context, or making meaning of data

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