How can you design valid and reliable assessment instruments?

1 What is validity and reliability?

Validity and reliability are two key concepts that determine the quality of assessment instruments. Validity refers to the extent to which an assessment instrument measures what it is intended to measure, while reliability refers to the consistency and accuracy of the assessment results. For example, a valid and reliable multiple-choice test should assess the students' knowledge of the course content, not their test-taking skills or guessing ability, and should produce similar scores for the same students under similar conditions.

2 How to align assessment with learning outcomes?

One of the first steps to design valid and reliable assessment instruments is to align them with the intended learning outcomes of the course or program. Learning outcomes are statements that describe what students should be able to do, know, or value as a result of completing a learning activity. Assessment instruments should be aligned with the learning outcomes in terms of the level, content, and context of the assessment tasks. For example, if one of the learning outcomes is to apply a theory to a real-world problem, then the assessment instrument should require the students to demonstrate their application skills in a relevant scenario.

3 How to choose appropriate assessment methods?

Another important step to design valid and reliable assessment instruments is to choose appropriate assessment methods that suit the purpose, context, and level of the assessment. Assessment methods are the ways of collecting evidence of student learning, such as tests, essays, portfolios, presentations, or projects. Different assessment methods have different strengths and limitations, and they should be selected based on the type, complexity, and depth of the learning outcomes. For example, a test may be suitable for assessing factual knowledge or basic skills, but not for assessing creativity or critical thinking.

4 How to write clear assessment criteria and rubrics?

A third essential step to design valid and reliable assessment instruments is to write clear assessment criteria and rubrics that communicate the expectations and standards of the assessment to the students and instructors. Assessment criteria are statements that describe the qualities or characteristics of a good performance in an assessment task, such as accuracy, completeness, relevance, or originality. Rubrics are tools that organize the assessment criteria into levels or categories of performance, such as excellent, satisfactory, or unsatisfactory, and assign points or grades to each level. Writing clear assessment criteria and rubrics can help to ensure that the assessment is valid, reliable, fair, and transparent.

5 How to pilot and review assessment instruments?

A final important step to design valid and reliable assessment instruments is to pilot and review them before implementing them in the actual course or program. Piloting and reviewing assessment instruments can help to identify and correct any potential problems or errors in the design, content, format, or administration of the assessment. For example, you can pilot your assessment instruments with a sample of students or colleagues, and ask them to provide feedback on the clarity, difficulty, relevance, and fairness of the assessment tasks, criteria, and rubrics. You can also review your assessment instruments by analyzing the assessment data, such as the scores, distributions, correlations, or feedback, and make any necessary adjustments or improvements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?