Determination of Mastery Scores When Instructional Units Are Linearly Related

Abstract

A procedure is described for the determination of individual mastery scores when instructional units are sequenced in a linear hierarchy. It is deemed appropriate when test data for these units have already been collected. Based on an overall evaluation for the whole sequence, a mastery score for the last unit is determined first. Using the resulting mastery classification for the last unit, a mastery score is then computed for the preceeding unit. The process is continued until a mastery score is finally obtained for the first unit. By determining the mastery scores in the manner described above, one is provided with an objective way to make (future) decisions on which students to advance to the next unit in the said sequence of instructional units.

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