Bands are the divisions or the levels of a scale used for the assessment of learning progress through its nine rungs or bands Carroll and Hall (1985, p.166) explain that a series of described levels of performance to which are assigned particular items of performance. In the present context, bands are part of a 1 to 9 system of levels from zero performance (Band 1) up to complete mastery for the required purposes (Band 9). Performances may be assessed directly according to the Band descriptors, as in an essay rating or converted into Bands from test scores.
Basic Skills are the primary activities learned at the elementary stage. These skills are necessary for carrying out the other related activities. Listening, speaking, reading and writing are the four basic skills of language, of which 'listening and reading' are called Receptive Skills and 'speaking and writing' are Productive Skills. To assess the progress of learning these skills, a variety of techniques are employed at various stages of the learning process.
Battery of Tests is a group of tests standardized on the same population. These tests are intended to be administered in succession to the same pupils.
Behaviour generally refers to the conduct of a person. In the area of evaluation, it refers to any visible activity displayed by a learner (student).
Behavioural Objectives are the educational objectives stated in specific operational terms. "Behavioural objectives are the specific objectives, expressed in terms of behavioural outcomes, to be achieved by an educational unit or course of study" (Sattler, 1982, p.632).
Behavioural Term is an action verb that indicates specific and directly observable behaviour. It is a term used for objective writing.
Behaviour Checklist is one that consists of a list of behaviours or acts, arranged in a systematic way. It is used to check the visibility of these behaviours in a particular situation and/or in a particular person.
Behaviour Problem is a problem of conduct. It assumes importance in the assessment of personality traits. Such a problem will usually create difficulties in maintaining interpersonal relationships. This is one of the unwanted qualities for undertaking responsible assignments and the presence of such qualities can be found through an inventory questionnaire.
Behaviour-Rating Schedule is a kind of questionnaire that provides specific questions about how the ratee behaves in a variety of situations. These questions are also provided with alternatives to be used by the ratee in replying. This schedule may be of useful for one's behaviour rating.
Behaviour Record is a record consisting the data usually presented in narrative form. These data provide an exact account of just what the learner observably does in a given period of time. The information obtained through this record will be of more useful for making a comprehensive evaluation of an examinee's alround growth.
Belief means confidence in existence of something not immediately accessible to proof. It obviously refers to the hidden qualities that a student develops during the course of his education, i.e., non-scholastic behavioural growth.
Best-Fit Line refers to the regression line that best-fit the means of the rows or columns, in a correlation table and appears approximately correct. (Also see, Regression Line-Fig. Best-Fit).
Bias - in testing refers to the non-random distribution of measurement error. It usually results in an unfair advantage for a particular group of individuals over other groups taking the same test. In other words, it refers to one of the test score to be consistently higher or lower than they would be if measurement were more accurate.
Bivariate Frequency Table (See Scatter Diagram).
Bivariate Population is often referred to as a "bivariate sample'. Bivariate means having two variables.
Bimodal Distribution - a distribution is said to be a bimodal distribution if the measures tend to pile-up at two distinct points along the score scale. In other words, it is a frequency distribution which has two modes.
Bio-data is an important tool for obtaining information about an individual's personal particulars, qualifications and achievements. It would help assess his growth - both scholastic and non-scholastic - developed over a period of time in different fields. It would also provide an idea about his attitude or inclination towards a particular area of interest, so that a decision whether to include or exclude a person in a programme could be taken. It also given an opportunity to the person concerned to project his own fitness.
Biserial Correlation Coefficient is an improvement over the Point Biserial Correlation. As explained by Sattler (1982, p.632) it is "a measure of the correlation between two variables, such as the relationship between scores on a single test item (1 to 0) and scores on the test as a whole, in which one variable is dichotomized (i.e., has only two possible scores). It is assumed that scores on the dichotomized variable would be normally distributed if the variable were measured more precisely".
Blind Guessing characteristics any response/reply that is not determined by the content of an objective test item. It reflects a purely random selection among the given alternatives. 'Guessing' occurs when an examinee does not have full confidence about the answer he is making. 'Blind Guessing' occurs when there is complete ignorance of the question/item or when the examinee answers after the given time is exhausted.
Blue Print (Table of Specifications) is a detailed plan that provides specifications for the development of a question paper in a scientific way. It provides the following information in respect of each question :
1) The content area covered,
2) The objective tested,
3) The form of the question,
4) Weightage given (marking scheme), and
5) The scheme of options to be provided while setting the questions.A model Blue Print listing the contents concerned, the abilities to be tested, the form of questions, etc., is given (See, p.18).
Boundary Effects appear due to the test being too easy or too difficult. When the tests are too easy, the scores tend to accumulate at the top of the distribution (ceiling effects) and when the tests are too difficult, the scores tend to be at the bottom (floor effects). Both these affect the reliability of the test.
B L U E P R I N T
Subject : ____________________
Portion : ____________________
Class : ____________________
Mark : 50
Objectives/
Abilities
Content
Sub-
total
Grand
total
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Knowledge :
PS/E
SA
O
--
4[2]
2[2]
--
--
2[2]
--
4[2]
1[1]
--
8[4]
5[5]
13[9]
Comprehension:
PS/E
SA
O
--
2[1]
1[1]
4[1]
2[1]
3[3]
--
2[1]
3[3]
4[1]
6[3]
7[7]
17[11]
Application :
PS/E
SA
O
4[1]
--
--
--
4[2]
--
--
--
2[2]
4[1]
4[2]
2[2]
10[5]
Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation :
PS/E
SA
O
4[1]2[1]
--
--2[1]
--
--
--
2[2]
4[1]4[2]
2[2]
10[5]Total marks : 50.
Total number of questions : 30.Note : PS/E … Problem Solving Questions/Essay Questions.
SA … Short Answer Questions
O … Objective Type Questions.