, Knowing
what
Students
Know The Science
and Design
of Educational
Assessment
Committee on the Foundations of Assessment
James W. Pellegrino, Naomi Chudowsky, and Robert Glaser, editors
Board on Testing and Assessment
Center for Education
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
National Research Council
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, DC
,NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS • 2101 Constitution Avenue N.W. • Washington, DC 20418
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board
of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The
members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences
and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study was supported by Grant No. REC-9722707 between the National Academy of
Sciences and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessar-
ily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Knowing what students know : the science and design of educational assessment /
Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, Center for Education, Division on
Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council ; James
Pellegrino, Naomi Chudowsky, and Robert Glaser, editors.
p. cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-309-07272-7
1. Educational tests and measurements—United States—Design and construction. 2.
Cognitive learning theory. I. Pellegrino, James W. II. Chudowsky, Naomi. III. Glaser,
Robert, 1921- IV. National Research Council (U.S.). Division of Behavioral and Social
Sciences and Education. Committee on the Foundations of Assessment.
LB3051.K59 2001
31.26′1—dc21 2001003876
Additional copies of this report are available from National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the
Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu
Suggested citation: National Research Council. 2001. Knowing what students know: The science
and design of educational assessment. Committee on the Foundations of Assessment. Pelligrino,
J., Chudowsky, N., and Glaser, R., editors. Board on Testing and Assessment, Center for Educa-
tion. Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press.
Printed in the United States of America
Copyright 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
, National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Engineering
Institute of Medicine
National Research Council
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating soci-
ety of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedi-
cated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general
welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the
Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scien-
tific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy
of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter
of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engi-
neers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members,
sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the
federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineer-
ing programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research,
and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is presi-
dent of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of
Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the
examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute
acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its con-
gressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own
initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.
Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sci-
ences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the
Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government.
Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the
Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the gov-
ernment, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is
administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M.
Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the
National Research Council.
what
Students
Know The Science
and Design
of Educational
Assessment
Committee on the Foundations of Assessment
James W. Pellegrino, Naomi Chudowsky, and Robert Glaser, editors
Board on Testing and Assessment
Center for Education
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
National Research Council
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, DC
,NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS • 2101 Constitution Avenue N.W. • Washington, DC 20418
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board
of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The
members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences
and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study was supported by Grant No. REC-9722707 between the National Academy of
Sciences and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessar-
ily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Knowing what students know : the science and design of educational assessment /
Committee on the Foundations of Assessment, Center for Education, Division on
Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council ; James
Pellegrino, Naomi Chudowsky, and Robert Glaser, editors.
p. cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-309-07272-7
1. Educational tests and measurements—United States—Design and construction. 2.
Cognitive learning theory. I. Pellegrino, James W. II. Chudowsky, Naomi. III. Glaser,
Robert, 1921- IV. National Research Council (U.S.). Division of Behavioral and Social
Sciences and Education. Committee on the Foundations of Assessment.
LB3051.K59 2001
31.26′1—dc21 2001003876
Additional copies of this report are available from National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the
Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu
Suggested citation: National Research Council. 2001. Knowing what students know: The science
and design of educational assessment. Committee on the Foundations of Assessment. Pelligrino,
J., Chudowsky, N., and Glaser, R., editors. Board on Testing and Assessment, Center for Educa-
tion. Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press.
Printed in the United States of America
Copyright 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
, National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Engineering
Institute of Medicine
National Research Council
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating soci-
ety of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedi-
cated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general
welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the
Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scien-
tific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy
of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter
of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engi-
neers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members,
sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the
federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineer-
ing programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research,
and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is presi-
dent of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of
Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the
examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute
acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its con-
gressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own
initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.
Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sci-
ences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the
Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government.
Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the
Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the gov-
ernment, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is
administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M.
Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the
National Research Council.
