Classification Accuracy and Consistency of Compensatory Composite Test Scores

Abstract

Test scores are often used to make decisions about examinees, such as in licensure and certification testing, as well as in many educational contexts. In some cases, these decisions are based upon compensatory scores, such as those from multiple sections or components of an exam. Classification accuracy and classification consistency are two psychometric characteristics of test scores that are often reported when decisions are based on those scores, and several techniques currently exist for estimating both accuracy and consistency. However, research on classification accuracy and consistency on compensatory test scores is scarce. This study demonstrates two techniques that can be used to estimate classification accuracy and consistency when test scores are used in a compensatory manner. First, a simulation study demonstrates that both methods provide very similar results under the studied conditions. Second, we demonstrate how the two methods could be used with a high-stakes licensure exam.