Evaluation of Nelson-Denny Reading Test Mini Project I

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Evaluation of Nelson-Denny Reading TestMini
Project I
By Becky Brandl
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General Information

• Nelson-Denny Reading Test
• Riverside Publishing Company, 1993

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General Purpose

• Assess achievement and progress
• in Vocabulary,
• Reading Comprehension,
• Reading Rate

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Cost

• CD-ROM Version
• 6.06ea 25-499
• 5.46ea 500-999
• 5.16ea 1000

• 50.25 - 25 Booklets
• 24.50 - Scoring Manual and Directions

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Time to Administer

• 35 minutes
• Extra time allowed for special
  student populations

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Population

• Grades 9 - 16 to Adult
• Two- year and
  four-year college students

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Content Appropriateness

• Reading Survey Test
• Vocabulary test
• Fifteen minute timed
• Comprehension test
• Twenty minute timed
• First minute determines reading rate

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Technical Evaluation

• Raw Scores
• Scale Scores
• Grade-Equivalent Scores
• Normal Curve Equivalent Scores
• National Percentile ranks
• National Stanines

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Reliability

• Forms G and H are parallel forms that have been
  equated
• Interchangeable as pretests and posttests

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Summary of M.M.Y. Reviewers Comments

• No evidence of the diagnostic function of the
  test.
• Low reliability levels
• Narrative reading samples only
• Does not reflect current reading requirements
  (Charts, tables, graphs, pictures)

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Readability Analysis

• Authors state that passages were checked using
  various readability formulas, but the resulting
  levels are not provided

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Critique of the Instrument

• The test is easy to use
• Provides clear directions

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Strengths

• Immediate Results
• Scores are generated and printed as soon as the
  assessment is complete
• Teachers can input raw scores from the
  paper/pencil version

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Strengths (cont.)

• Progress can be shown over time.
• Individual reports can be customized according to
  district specifications.

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Weaknesses

• Diagnostic usefulness of information is suspect
  because of the authors arbitrary and vague
  procedures
• Basis for normative comparisons is highly
  questionable

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Recommendations

• I would prefer to use the CD-ROM version
• Results reported immediately
• Does not require hand-scoring

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Caution

• DO NOT over interpret the scores
• Best used in combination with other reading
  indicators
• Work samples
• Observations
• Other reading tests

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"To me a fair test is one that looks at the
positive accomplishments of that person. For
instance, if we were to evaluate the faculty at
this college, should we use a test of ability
based on the norms for faculty members in the
United States, or would it be more fair to look
at what each faculty member has accomplished?
-Ken Kifer