School & test engagement
Educators need accurate assessment data to help students learn. But when students rapid-guess or otherwise disengage on tests the validity of scores can be affected. Our research examines the causes of test disengagement, how it relates to students’ overall academic engagement, and its impacts on individual test scores. We look at its effects on aggregated metrics used for school and teacher evaluations, achievement gap studies, and more. This research also explores better ways to measure and improve engagement and to help ensure that test scores more accurately reflect what students know and can do.
Why we’re all-in on student test engagement
A lack of test engagement can negatively impact scores. Learn about NWEA’s work to prevent and mitigate impacts of rapid guessing.
By: Steven Wise
Topics: School & test engagement, Innovations in reporting & assessment
Researchers can detect when students aren’t trying on computerized tests
A testing company spots disengaged students who are guessing answers too quickly.
The Hechinger Report
Mentions: Steven Wise
Topics: Equity, Innovations in reporting & assessment, School & test engagement
This study investigates whether rapid guessing is a stable trait-like behavior or if rapid guessing is determined mostly by situational variables, and whether rapid guessing over the course of several tests is associated with certain psychological and background measures. We find that rapid guessing tends to be more state-like compared to academic achievement scores, which are fairly stable and that repeated rapid guessing is strongly associated with students’ academic self-efficacy and self-management scores.
By: James Soland, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Measurement & scaling, School & test engagement, Social-emotional learning
Ability to identify rapid guessing stands to improve interventions
Research at NWEA provides insight into rapid-guessing and what it means for students and educators.
Education Dive
Mentions: Steven Wise
Topics: Equity, Innovations in reporting & assessment, School & test engagement
Steven Wise shares some of his most recent findings on test engagement in this interview.
The 74
Mentions: Steven Wise
Topics: Equity, School & test engagement
What happens when test takers disengage?
Learn about recent research findings on test taking engagement and what it means for educators.
Topics: Innovations in reporting & assessment, School & test engagement
The impact of test-taking disengagement on item content representation
Rapid-guessing can distort test scores and adversely affect measurement. New research shows how disengaged responses can also distort content representation.
By: Steven Wise
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Innovations in reporting & assessment, School & test engagement