Free Response Data Scoring

Computers offer the potential to extend assessment by delivering complex interactive item formats that require examinees to respond in ways that more closely approximate the ‘real world’ criterion behaviors of interest. However, for this expansion of assessment to be practically useful, it is necessary for the computer to both deliver and score the assessments. During the last two decades, these procedures have been the focus of considerable effort by numerous researchers. This entry describes the state of the art for computerized scoring of complex item formats. It begins with a presentation of the types of procedures currently in use. The entry then discusses the strengths and weaknesses of differing approaches, focusing on conceptual distinctions between approaches. The discussion concludes with comments about the future of automated scoring. Keywords: automated scoring; computerized scoring; essay scoring