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Computerised adaptive testing: An investigation of factors affecting students’ test performance
Citation
Chew, L. C. (1999). Computerised adaptive testing: An investigation of factors affecting students’ test performance. In S. P. Loo (Ed.), Proceeds of the MERA-ERA Joint conference 1999: Educational Challenges in the New Millennium (pp. 403-409). Malacca, Malaysia.
Abstract
In the Singapore context, with increased availability of computers and a broader access to
computers in the coming years, computerised testing where computers are used as devices for
delivering tests has good potential. More specifically, computerised adaptive testing (CAT) holds
promise as a new and innovative strategy for testing and measuring student achievement.
However, the acceptability of CAT by both the public and those directly involved, namely, school
administrators, teachers and students, is critical. They will need to be convinced of the suitability
of computer technology to many of the testing tasks, and of the equity of this new testing method
especially in terms of students’ test performance. This paper reports on the findings of an
investigation study of several pertinent factors that were hypothesised to influence student
performance at computerised adaptive tests on biology. The variables included a) student gender
and ability, b) student computer ownership and experience, and the frequency of their use of
computers, c) student attitudes to computers, and to science learning.
Date Issued
December 1999