Assessment

An evaluation process in which knowledge, skills, attitudes, or beliefs are formally documented, often toward the goal of enriching what is known or understood about a particular individual. Assessment instruments can be objective, with only one correct “answer” (e.g., multiple-choice questions), or subjective, with multiple correct answers (e.g., essays, open-ended questions). Differences in the use and the definition of objective and subjective assessments exist between various disciplines, often having to do with the way the data are treated for analysis. Many assessments rank the test results according to a specific criterion (e.g., a driving test) or a population norm (e.g., IQ tests). Another broad distinction is whether the assessment is carried out in a formal (usually written) or an informal way. Objectivity, reliability, and validity are considered the fundamental criteria of an assessment. Objectivity is achieved when the result does not depend on a particular evaluator, while reliability is attained when the assessment can be repeated with the same results. Finally, validity refers to the degree to which test scores truly measure what they are intended to measure. For more information, see Keeves (1997).