CHANGES IN TEST CHARACTERISTICS AS A FUNCTION OF LEARNING OF THE OBJECT-TASK

M ikkonen V. Changes in test characteristics as a function of learning of the object-task. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1972, 13 , 306–313.—Two verbal learning experiments, one consisting of six free recall trials, the other of six recognitions, are analysed as performance tests in order to follow the changes in test characteristics with increasing mean performance. In general, the items in the tasks form more consistent tests with greater degree of learning; coefficient alpha as a measure of reliability improves from the level of 0.02–0.50 to that of 0.70–0.85. Internal consistency can further be increased by item selection especially at low levels of performance. Practical implications of the results are discussed and a few recommendations presented.