SEM (Standard Error of Measurement)

SEM (Standard Error of Measurement) – an estimate of the amount of error. Associated with an obtained score. Determined by the reliability & S.D. of a test.

Higher the reliability, lower the Standard Error.

Higher the S.D. the higher the Standard Error.

Confidence interval – the band or range of scores around the obtained score that is likely to include the Ss true score.

Occasions not requiring IQ testing:
• Re-evals
• ED (Emotionally Disturbed) – but first rule out health, intellect, etc.
• LD (Document lack of academic performance in the face of increasingly intensive interventions

Observed score = True Score + Error (All measurement contains error)

True score theory: if it were possible for an individual to be measured many times using a different parallel form, the average of the resulting errors would approach 0.

Error is not biased

Three types of validity:

• Content Validity (P115, L)
• Criterion Validity
• --Concurrant (P115,R)
• --Predictive (P115, R)
• Construct (P116, L)
• --Convergent
• --Divergent

Filed under: EDC 512-513 Cognitive Assessment and Practicum
Copyright: October, 2003 - David Profitt