Assessment item development

Assessment Item Development

Create valid, reliable assessment items across formats including multiple choice, constructed response, and performance tasks following psychometric best practices.

Overview

This skill enables the development of high-quality assessment items that accurately measure learning outcomes. It encompasses item writing across formats, alignment with objectives, and application of psychometric principles to create valid and reliable assessments.

Capabilities

Multiple Choice Items

• Write clear, unambiguous stems
• Develop plausible distractors
• Avoid item-writing flaws
• Address various cognitive levels
• Apply item analysis principles

Constructed Response

• Design short-answer items
• Create essay prompts
• Develop case-based questions
• Write open-ended problems
• Create scoring guidelines

Performance Tasks

• Design authentic tasks
• Develop task specifications
• Create rubrics and scoring guides
• Plan administration conditions
• Document task requirements

Quality Assurance

• Review for bias and sensitivity
• Verify content alignment
• Apply item statistics
• Conduct item review
• Document item metadata

Usage Guidelines

Item Development Process

1. Review learning objectives
2. Select appropriate item format
3. Draft items following guidelines
4. Review and revise items
5. Pilot test when possible
6. Analyze and refine

Multiple Choice Guidelines

• Single correct answer
• Parallel answer choices
• Avoid "all of the above"
• Place correct answer randomly
• Keep options similar length

Constructed Response Guidelines

• Clear task requirements
• Specific scoring criteria
• Appropriate scope
• Sufficient context
• Model responses available

Integration Points

Related Processes

• Formative Assessment Design
• Summative Assessment Development
• Item Writing and Test Development

Collaborating Skills

• learning-objectives-writing
• rubric-design-validation
• learning-analytics-interpretation

References

• Item writing guidelines (Haladyna)
• ETS item development standards
• Psychometric principles
• Assessment best practices