MUSC 605
MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF MUSICAL EXPERIENCES

Catalog Entry

MUSC 605. Measurement and Evaluation of Music Experiences
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisite: Undergraduate degree in music or permission of instructor.

Measurement and evaluation techniques for music aptitude, achievement, and preference will be explored. An emphasis of the course is on developing teacher-made tests and on available standardized music tests.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

This course focuses on the following:

• Functions of evaluation
• Issues in measurement and evaluation
  • Misuses of tests
  • Criterion-referenced versus norm-referenced tests
  • Competency testing
  • Limitations and dangers of testing
  • Extraneous variables influencing test scores
  • Moral, social, and political implications
  • Special issues in music testing
• Psychometric foundations
  • Central tendency
  • Variables
    • Dependent
    • Independent
    • Extraneous
  • Reliability
  • Validity
  • Norms
  • Types of tests
  • Data analysis

• Non-parametric data
  • Nominal data
  • Frequency counts
  • Percentages
  • Chi square test
• Ordinal Data
  • Ranking
  • Spearman rank order coefficient of correlation
• Parametric data
  • Interval data
    • Characteristics of the normal curve
    • Probability
  • Ratio Data
    • Measures of central tendency
      • Mean
      • Median
      • Mode
    • Measures of spread or dispersion
      • Range
      • Deviation score
      • Variance
      • Standard deviation
    • Measures of relative position
      • Percentile rank
      • Standard deviation
      • Z score
    • Measures of relationships (correlations): Pearson Product‑Moment Coefficient of Correlation
    • Measures of differences
      • T-Tests
      • ANOVA
• Types of music test behaviors
• Developing assessment instruments
  • Objectives
  • Sampling behaviors and objectives
  • Assessment techniques
    • Likert scales
    • Semantic differential
    • Paired comparisons
    • Successive intervals
    • Magnitude estimation
    • Rank orders
    • Rubrics
    • Contest-festival
  • Item writing
  • Item analysis
  • Use of recorded musical examples
• Areas for musical assessment
  • Musical aptitude and ability
  • Musical achievement
    •  
      • What to assess
      • Published tests
  • Iowa Tests of Musical Literacy
  • Silver Burdett Music Competency Tests
  • Musical performance
    •  
      • What to assess
      • Published test: Watkins‑Farnum Performance Scale
  • Measuring attitudes and other affective variables
    • What to assess
    • Published tests
      • Wing "Appreciation" subtests
      • MAP "Musical Sensitivity" subtest
      • Indiana-Oregon Music Discrimination Test
• What to assess
• Published tests
  • Seashore
  • Wing
  • Bentley
  • Gordon MAP
  • Gordon PMMA
  • Gordon IMMA
  • Other Tests
• Test administration and scoring
• Reporting systems
  • Grading systems
  • Computer-based grade books
• Program evaluation (guidelines for evaluating music programs)

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course includes reading assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, class presentations, and exams.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

At the conclusion of the course, the graduate student will:

1. discuss the philosophy of testing and the need for evaluation in music education.
2. apply analytical skills to the selection of tests for specific needs.
3. analyze and evaluate available standardized music tests.
4. describe and utilize the psychometric foundations of test development, interpretation, and evaluation.
5. develop teacher made tests dealing with the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains relating to the assessment of music aptitude, achievement, and preference.
6. discuss techniques used in the administration and scoring of tests.
7. describe systematic approaches to evaluation and grading.
8. discuss the use of computer-based grade books.
9. describe program evaluation in music.

Assessment Measures

Assessment will include written tests, projects, homework and a written final examination.

Other Course Information

Approval and Subsequent Reviews

DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
February 2001 Revised E. Fellin, Chairman