Technical adequacy of tests used by professionals in simulated decision making

A critical issue in current assessment efforts is the widespread use of technically inadequate tests. This study looked at the technical adequacy of tests chosen by 159 school professionals during a computer simulation of placement decision making. An analysis of the results suggested that initially school personnel tended to select devices with technically adequate reliability and validity as often as they selected devices with inadequate reliability and validity; however, as decision making continued, technically inadequate devices were selected more often. More emphasis on the importance of technically adequate assessment devices is needed in training school professionals.