Test Battery

Test Battery Process

There are a variety of test batteries that can be used to collect meaningful data on an individual. Test batteries often consist of norm-referenced measures and informal assessments. Norm-referenced measures are well standardized and psychometrically sound tests that allow an examinee to be compared to a normative group, whereas informal assessments tend to be less psychometrically sound. Examples of norm-referenced tests include standardized intelligence and academic achievement tests, whereas examples of informal assessments are projective and curriculum-based measures.

Test batteries can be used in many different fields. For example, educators and school professionals have relied on cognitive, academic achievement, behavioral, and social–emotional measures to determine appropriate services and supports for students with disabilities. A standard battery approach or a process approach may be used in the administration of a group of tests to an individual. A standard battery approach involves selecting and administering a group of tests based on the reason for referral (i.e., the reason for testing the individual) and the professional’s hypotheses generated concerning the difficulties the person is experiencing. The battery of tests selected does not change once the administration of the measures begins. In the process approach, selection and administration of a group of tests are also based on the reason for referral and the professional’s hypotheses, but the actual tests used in the assessment are altered in the process as more information is gleaned about the individual during the assessment.

The administration of a test battery may take less than 2 hours or occur over several days. Once the test battery is complete, the measures are scored and a report is issued summarizing the findings and making recommendations (e.g., services, supports, and treatments suggested for the individual) based on the assessment results. After the report is completed, a feedback session is usually conducted with the individual assessed or, if a child is the examinee, the parents and the child to explain the results of the assessment in layperson’s terms. The information gleaned from test batteries can assist professionals in helping individuals develop a better understanding of their strengths and/or difficulties and determine whether services, supports, or treatments are needed, so that individuals can lead more productive and self-fulfilling lives.

See also Psychometrics; Reliability; Standardized Tests; Tests