Measuring vocabulary knowledge with testlets

The goal of the Vocabulary Assessment Study In Education grant is to develop a vocabulary assessment that is based on words actually taught in the classroom (as distinguished from the Califorinia standards test that may not be based on words taught in the classroom).

While other measures of vocabulary knowledge rest on a student’s ability to define a word, the assessment will be designed to capture a broader base of knowledge than these strictly definitional measures. The assessment will measure incremental knowledge via a five question progression called a testlet that enables students to demonstrate gradations of knowledge about each word.

The assessment will be designed to enable accepted, trusted measurement properties that allow generalization of word learning. The VASE team will create and pilot a series of tests before publishing the best version.

The grant includes development of a word bank hosted on this website that teachers can access to get help developing their vocabulary lessons and making their classrooms more word conscious. In addition, resources for researchers in the vocabulary field have been made available in the Resources section of this website.