Chapter 5&6

Question 1

Difference between numerical rating scales and graphic rating scales

Answer 1

• Numerical Rating Scale: A sequence of numbers is assigned to descriptive categories; the rater marks a number to indicate the degree to which a characteristic is present
• Graphic Rating Scale: A set of categories described at certain points along the line of a continuum; the rater can mark his or her judgment at any location on the line

Question 2

Advantages of Numerical Rating Scales

Answer 2

• Used for behaviors not easily measured by other means
• Quick and easy to complete
• User can apply knowledge about the child from other times
• Minimum of training required
• Easy to design using consistent descriptors (e.g., always, sometimes, rarely, or never)
• Can describe the child’s steps toward understanding or mastery

Question 3

Disadvantages of Numerical Rating Scales

Answer 3

• Highly subjective (rater error and bias are a common problem)
• Raters may rate a child on the basis of their previous interactions or on an emotional, rather than an objective, basis
• Ambiguous terms make them unreliable: raters are likely to mark characteristics by using different interpretations of the ratings

Question 4

Advantages of Graphic Rating Scales

Answer 4

• can be more specific in descriptions

- more objective and accurate

Question 5

Disadvantages of Graphic Rating Scales

Answer 5

-bias because of disagreements about the meaning of descriptions

Question 6

Four purposes of observation

Answer 6

• Most direct method of knowing development and learning of each individual young child.
• Understand appropriate behaviors.
• Understand a child’s behavior in context of all domains of development.
• Evaluate a child’s progress in learning.

Question 7

Define Play-based assessment

Answer 7

assessment often used for children with disabilities that is conducted through observation in play environments

Question 8

Definition of a checklist

Answer 8

sequence or hierarchy of concepts and/or skills organized in a format that can be used to plan instruction and keep records

Question 8

Definition of a rating scale

Answer 8

using categories that allow the observer to indicate the degree of a characteristic that the person possess

Question 8

What can checklists be used for with primary and school-aged children?

Answer 8

• Curriculum checklists focus on content-area objectives, e.g., math, language arts, etc.
• Assess children’s learning strengths and weaknesses in curriculum objectives and document progress in learning
• Checklist items may be representative of achievement test objectives, state-mandated objectives, textbook objectives, and locally selected objectives
• Checklist objectives may appear on report cards

Question 8

Steps in checklist design

Answer 8

1. Identify the skills to be included
2. List target behaviors separately
3. Organize the checklist sequentially
4. Determine how record keeping will be done

Question 8

Uses of informal teacher conducted assessments

Answer 8

• placement
• diagnostic evaluation and instructional planning
• formative and summative evaluation

Question 8

Four ways to develop a rating scale

Answer 8

1. Identify the learning outcomes that the task is intended to assess.
2. Determine what characteristics of the learning outcomes are most significant for assessment. Clearly define points on the scale.
3. Select the scale that is most appropriate for the purposes of the assessment.
4. Provide 3 to 7 ratings to the scale (the number of points will depend on how many levels of accomplishment are needed).

Question 8

Advantages of using a rubric

Answer 8

• Provide guidelines for quality student work or performance
• Flexible; can be designed for many uses and ability levels
• Easily modified
• Can be used by both teacher and student to guide the student’s efforts prior to completion of a task
• Can be translated into grades and can be used to discuss with parents and students