ETS utilises psychometric expertise to ensure that all assessments are reliable, valid, and fair.
In developing valid assessments, the use of psychometrics is an indispensable factor. Accordingly, the ETS Research & Development division includes internationally distinguished psychometricians and statisticians. Additionally, a dedicated statistical analysis department – The Statistical Centre – provides psychometric expertise in support of assessments. Major functions include:
Developing and refining statistical procedures,
Implementing new technology in support of statistical procedures,
Providing technical support to ETS’ major testing programmes (from confronting scaling and equating issues so that scores can be created, to dealing with the various psychometric, legal, and security issues that testing programmes face),
Conducting research that furthers the validity, use, and interpretation of the scores and services provided by the various testing programmes.
Our statisticians and psychometricians work to ensure that all ETS assessments are:
Reliable : produce consistent scores across different testing conditions or versions,
Valid : measure the traits, knowledge, or skills that they are intended to measure,
Fair : no segment is disadvantaged by factors such as language or content of the questions.
