Test Topics
Glossary
Decision consistency - This is a measure of the reliability of the classification decision. Decision consistency estimates the extent to which, if an examinee were administered a test on two separate occasions, the same classification decision (whether pass or fail) would be made. This measure of reliability is particularly appropriate for criterion-referenced tests.
Diagnostic score - Diagnostic scores provide detailed information about an examinee's performance on a test. In a criterion-referenced test, diagnostic scores may be particularly useful to examinees who failed the test and plan to test again.
Difficulty index - This is a measure of the proportion of examinees who responded to an item correctly. It is also referred to as the p-value.
Discrimination index - This is a measure of how well an item can distinguish between examinees who performed well on the overall test, and those who did not.
Disciplinary program - A disciplinary program is usually administered by the certification board. It addresses the investigation and disposition of complaints filed against certificate holders alleged to be in violation of a code of ethics or professional standards. A possible outcome of the disciplinary program is the imposition of sanctions against certificate holders found in violation of the organization's ethical principles.
Distractors - This refers to the incorrect options presented to the examinee in a multiple choice, or other objective item type.
Distractor analysis - This is a measure of how well each of the incorrect options in a multiple choice, or similar item type, is performing.