The construction of a criterion-referenced physical education knowledge test
Creators: name: Wilson, Gail E.
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2010

description: Throughout the last two decades, physical educators have worked to develop a specific body of knowledge. Associated with the formation of this body of knowledge has been a trend by most physical educators to include a cognitive objective as one of the stated aims in their physical education, curricula. As a result, the need for adequate knowledge assessment instruments has become apparent. Although some assessment of knowledge in physical and health education has occurred since the late 1920's, the majority of tests which have been developed to date are directed towards the evaluation of knowledge in specific sports or activities. Relatively few tests are available that assess general knowledge concepts in physical education. As well, all of the knowledge tests that have been produced are norm-referenced' instruments. That is, they have been constructed for the purpose of ranking individuals and comparing differences among them. The purpose of this study was to design a criterion-referenced test which would assess the physical education knowledge of grade eleven high school students in British Columbia and which could function as a measurement instrument for the evaluation of groups or classes. As a criterion-referenced assessment tool, the knowledge test assesses the performance of individuals based on' objectives which had been previously formulated by the Learning Assessment Branch of the Ministry of Education in British Columbia. In order to prepare a table of specifications for the design of the test, the specific objectives to be measured were grouped into six subtest areas. Multiple-choice items were then constructed according to the requirements of the table of specifications. For the initial pilot administration of the test, two test forms, of 48 items each, were developed. Each of these forms included three of the six sub-test areas. One half of the 288 students to whom the first pilot was administered answered Form A while the remaining students answered Form B. Following the administration of pilot test 1, the results obtained were analysed by the Laboratory of Educational Research Test Analysis Package (LERTAP), and were subjectively reviewed by an advisory panel. As a result of these procedures, 70 items were retained for use on the second pilot test. This test was administered to 133 students and the results were again analysed subjectively and psychometrically. Thirty-eight items from pilot test 2 were considered acceptable for use on the final pilot test. In order to maintain adherence to the table of specifications, nine new items were developed and after approval by the advisory panel, were included on the third test form. This form was given to 800 grade eleven students and the responses of 250 randomly selected students were analysed by the LERTAP procedure. The analysis indicated that all items were psychometrically sound and the reliability of this form was estimated at .71. Thus, the items utilized during the third pilot administration constituted the final form of the knowledge test. The test is suitable for evaluating groups and the six sub-tests, as well as the total test, can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses within programs.