Using Generalizability Theory to Investigate the Reliability of Scores Assigned to Students in English Language Examination in Nigeria

Year 2021, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 147 - 162, 30.06.2021

Olufunke Akindahunsi , Eyitayo Rufus Ifedayo Afolabı

https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.820989

Abstract

The study investigated the reliability of scores assigned to students in English language in National Examinations Council (NECO). The population consisted of all the students who sat for NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 2017 in Nigeria. A sample of 311,138 was selected using the proportionate stratified sampling technique. The Optical Marks Record (OMR) sheet containing the responses of the examinees was the instrument for the study. The data was analyzed using lme4 package of R language and environment for statistical computing, factor analysis and Tucker index of factor congruence. The psychometric properties of the data were determined by estimating the generalizability (g) coefficient, phi (Φ) coefficient and construct validity. The results indicated the g-coefficient to be 0.90 and Φ coefficient as 0.87, which is an indication of high reliability of scores. The result also showed that a decrease in the number of the items resulted in a decrease in both g- and phi coefficients in D-study. The construct validity of 0.99 obtained from the result affirms the credibility of the items. Hence, it was concluded that the scores were dependable and generalizable.

Keywords

Reliability, Validity, English Language, Score, Generalizability Theory

References

• Alkharusi, H. (2012). Generalizability theory: An analysis of variance approach to measurement problems in educational assessment. Journal of Studies in Education, 2(1), 184-196. doi: 10.5296/jse.v2i1.1227
• Bates, D., Mächler, M., Bolker, B. M., & Walker, S. C. (2015). Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1-48. doi: 10.18637/jss.v067.i01
• Breithaupt, K. (2011). Medical licensure testing: White paper for the assessment review task force of the medical council of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.mcc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Technical-Reports-Breithaupt-2011.pdf
• Brennan, R. L. (2001). Generalizability theory. New York: Springer.
• Brennan, R. L. (2003). Coefficients and indices in generalizability theory (CASMA Research Report Number 1). Iowa: Centre for Advanced Studies in Measurement and Assessment.
• Crocker, L., & Algina, J. (2008). Introduction to classical and modern test theory. U.S.A: Cengage Learning.
• de Gruijter, D. N., & van der Kamp, L. J. Th. (2008). Statistical test theory for the behavioural sciences. New York: Chapman & Hall/CRC.
• de Vries, I. M. (2012). An analysis of test construction procedures and score dependability of a paramedic recertification exam (Master’s thesis). Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
• Desjardins, C. D., & Bulut, O. (2018). Handbook of educational measurement and psychometrics using R (1st Ed). Parkway, Boca Raton: Chapman and Hall/CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b20498
• Fosnacht, K., & Gonyea, R. M. (2018). The dependability of the updated NSSE: A generalizability study. Research and Practice in Assessment 13, 62-73. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1203503
• Gugiu, M. R., Gugiu, P. C., & Baldus, R. (2012). Utilizing generalizability theory to investigate the reliability of the grades assigned to undergraduate research papers. Journal of Multidisciplinary Evaluation, 8(19), 26-40. Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/362
• Johnson, S., & Johnson, R. (2009). Conceptualising and interpreting reliability. Coventy: Ofqual Junker, B. W. (2012). Some aspects of classical reliability theory and classical test theory. Department of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.
• Kamis, O., & Dogan, C. D. (2018). An investigation of reliability coefficients estimated for decision studies in generalizability theory. Journal of Education and Learning, 7(4), 103-113. doi: 10.5539/jel.v7n4p103
• Li, M., Shavelson, R. J., Yin, Y., & Wiley, W. (2015). Generalizability theory. In The encyclopedia of clinical psychology (pp. 1322-1340). doi: 10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp352
• Lorenzo-Seva, U., & Ten Berge, J. U. M. (2006). Tucker’s congruence coefficient as a meaningful index of factor similarity. Methodology, 2(2), 57-64. doi: 10.1027/1614-2241.2.2.57 Mushquash, C., & O’Connor, B. (2006). SPSS and SAS programs for generalizability theory analyses. Behavioral Research Methods, 38, 542-547. doi: 10.3758/BF03192810
• Nalbantoglu-Yilmaz, F. (2017). Reliability of scores obtained from self-, peer-, and teacher-assessments on teaching materials prepared by teacher candidates. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 17(2), 395-409. doi: 10.12738/estp.2017.2.0098
• Olusoji, O. A. (2012). Effects of English language on national development. Greener Journal of Social Sciences, 2(4), 134-139. doi: 10.15580/GJSS.2012.4.08291255
• Rentz, J. O. (1987). Generalizability theory: A comprehensive method for assessing and improving the dependability of marketing measures. Journal of Marketing Research, 24(1), 19-28. doi: 10.1177/002224378702400102
• Shavelson, R. J., & Webb, N. M.1(991). Generalizability theory: A Primer. Newbury Park CA: Sage.
• Solano-Flores, G., & Li, M. (2006). The use of generalizability theory in the testing of linguistic minorities. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 25(1), 13-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-3992.2006.00048.x
• Strube, M. J. (2002). Reliability and generalizability theory. In L.G. Grimm and P. R. Yarnold (Eds.), Reading and understanding more multivariate statistics (pp. 23-66). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Tasdelen-Teker, G., Sahin, M. G., & Baytemir, K. (2016). Using generalizability theory to investigate the reliability of peer assessment. Journal of Human Sciences, 13(3), 5574-5586. Retrieved from https://j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/4155
• Uzun, N. B., Aktas, M. Asiret, S., & Yorumalz, S. (2018). Using generalizability theory to assess the score reliability of communication skills of dentistry students. Asian Journal of Education and Training, 4(2), 85-90. doi: 10.20448/journal.522.2018.42.85.90
• Webb, N. M., Shavelson, R. J., & Haertel, E. H. (2006). 4 reliability coefficients and generalizability theory. Handbook of Statistics, 26, 81-124. doi: 10.1016/S0169-7161(06)26004-8
• Yin, Y., & Shavelson, R. J. (2008). Application of generalizability theory to concept map assessment research. Applied Measurement in Education, 21(3), 273-291. doi: 10.1080/08957340802161840
• Zainudin, A. (2012). Research methodology and data analysis (5th Ed). Shah Alam: Universiti Teknologi MARA Publication Centre (UiTM Press).