Sampling Fluctuations Resulting from the Sampling of Test Items

1 March 1955

journal article
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Psychometrika

Vol. 20 (1) , 1-22
https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02288956

Abstract

Sampling fluctuations resulting from the sampling of test items rather than of examinees are discussed. It is shown that the Kuder-Richardson reliability coefficients actually are measures of this type of sampling fluctuation. Formulas for certain standard errors are derived; in particular, a simple formula is given for the standard error of measurement of an individual examinee's score. A common misapplication of the Wilks-Votaw criterion for parallel tests is pointed out. It is shown that the Kuder-Richardson formula-21 reliability coefficient should be used instead of the formula-20 coefficient in certain common practical situations.

Keywords

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