8: Using Standardized Assessment Tools – Characteristics, Methods and Techniques

While authentic assessment tools and methods are often considered to be the most developmentally appropriate, in some situations (including screening or comprehensive assessment for the purposes of determining eligibility for special education) some believe it may be helpful or necessary to combine the information gathered using authentic assessment methods with information collected using standardized assessment tools and methods.

By the end of this chapter, readers will be able to:

1. Discriminate between authentic and standardized assessment tools, as well as norm-referenced and criterion-based assessment tools.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the names of a few screening and diagnostic assessment tools that are commonly used in early childhood programs.
3. Define and describe variables to consider when selecting an assessment, including sensitivity and specificity of screening tools, reliability and validity.
4. Demonstrate the ability to accurately calculate a child’s chronological age, as well as basal and ceiling scores on common early childhood assessment tools and define what they are and how they are used.

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