Reference · Assessment Science
Assessment glossary.
Clear, accurate definitions of the psychometrics and assessment-science terms that appear in pre-employment testing, candidate screening, and team skill evaluation. Each entry explains what the concept means, why it matters in hiring, and how it connects to related ideas.
All terms
10 terms, from adverse impact to reliability.
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Computer-Adaptive Testing
An assessment format that adjusts question difficulty in real time based on each answer.
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Construct Validity
Evidence that a test actually measures the psychological trait it claims to measure.
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Criterion Validity
The statistical relationship between test scores and a real-world performance outcome.
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Cut Score
The minimum score required to pass a test or advance to the next stage of selection.
Why it matters
Better vocabulary, better decisions.
For HR and talent teams.
Terms like adverse impact and cut score carry legal and ethical weight. Understanding them precisely helps you design defensible selection processes and avoid unintentional bias.
For assessment buyers.
Vendors use terms like criterion validity and reliability coefficient in sales conversations. Knowing what they mean — and what evidence to ask for — lets you evaluate claims honestly.
Ready to run assessments that stand up to scrutiny?