TY - JOUR
T1 - Reliability and validity of FE exam scores for assessment of individual competence, program accreditation, and college performance
AU - Lawson, William D.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - This study explores whether fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam scores are reliable and valid measures of individual competence, program accreditation, and college performance, each of these being processes commonly assessed using FE scores. Findings indicate that a trend exists toward erosion of reliability and validity as one moves further from the individual assessment level. That is, FE exam scores are probably reliable and valid indicators of minimal technical competency at the individual level. However, program-level assessments require a careful, fine-grained comparison of the subject-content statistics reported by NCEES relative to stated program objectives, and in certain cases, FE exam data will not serve as reliable and valid assessment indicators for some engineering programs. Further, assessment of entire engineering schools based on college-wide FE exam pass rates is inappropriate and cannot be rationally supported.
AB - This study explores whether fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam scores are reliable and valid measures of individual competence, program accreditation, and college performance, each of these being processes commonly assessed using FE scores. Findings indicate that a trend exists toward erosion of reliability and validity as one moves further from the individual assessment level. That is, FE exam scores are probably reliable and valid indicators of minimal technical competency at the individual level. However, program-level assessments require a careful, fine-grained comparison of the subject-content statistics reported by NCEES relative to stated program objectives, and in certain cases, FE exam data will not serve as reliable and valid assessment indicators for some engineering programs. Further, assessment of entire engineering schools based on college-wide FE exam pass rates is inappropriate and cannot be rationally supported.
KW - Accreditation
KW - Assessment
KW - Engineering education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548667920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2007)133:4(320)
DO - 10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2007)133:4(320)
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34548667920
SN - 1052-3928
VL - 133
SP - 320
EP - 326
JO - Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
JF - Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
IS - 4
ER -