Testing and Assessment: A Guide to Good Practices for Workforce Investment Professionals eBook

Human capital is our most valuable resource in today’s globally competitive, highly technical, and increasingly diverse workplace. Investing in the development of our workforce is critical if we are to protect our economic well-being and maintain our standard of living. We develop our workforce in a number of ways by helping both individuals and organizations to identify and cultivate their abilities and competencies. Tests and assessments are often key tools in achieving this important goal.This Guide serves to help career counselors and training and development professionals use assessment practices in appropriate ways to support the overarching goal of workforce development. It conveys the essential concepts of testing and assessment in easy-to-understand terms so that counselors, trainers, and other workforce development professionals can:

– evaluate and select assessment tools/procedures that provide career counseling and guidance, and aid in training and career development;

– administer and score assessment tools that are the most efficient and effective for their particular needs;

– interpret assessment results in an accurate manner; and

– understand the professional and legal standards to be followed when using tests and assessments in counseling, training, and other career development programs.

This Guide is structured around a set of assessment principles and their applications. The information is organized so that readers from a variety of backgrounds will find the information presented in a clear and useful manner.

– Each chapter covers a critical aspect of the assessment process. The issues involved in each aspect are outlined at the beginning of each chapter.

– Thirteen principles of assessment are explained in the Guide.

– It also offers a list of resource materials for those interested in more information on a particular topic, and a glossary for quick clarification of terms and concepts.