Validity And Reliability Of Teacher Made Tests In Kenya: A Case Study Of Physics Form Three In Nyahururu District

Abstract

rhis study was carried out to determine the factors affecting validity and reliability. Validity is the quality of a test to measure what it purports to measure. Reliability is the property of replicability of the results of a test. These are the two main and important properties of a test. The study specifically sought the effect of each of the factors examined on validity and reliability levels of the different tests. It was conducted in Nyahururu District of Laikipia County, Kenya The study involved 42 teachers and 15 key informants in the various schools in this district. The study was guided by the following questions: 1) Does experience affect validity and reliability of teacher made tests?; 2) Does training on test construction and analysis affect reliability and validity?; 3) Does level of education affect validity and reliability of teacher made tests?; 4) Does use of Bloom’s taxonomy affect validity and reliability?; 5) Does moderation affect the validity and reliability of tests?; 6) Does length of tests affect reliability and validity of teacher made tests? This study used a mixed descriptive survey research design to collect and analyze the data. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews with the key informants i.e. directors of studies or deputy principals. All these were applied to elicit opinion of all teachers and directors of studies. The information from the questionnaires was presented in figures and percentages in tables while the information obtained from interviews were analyzed using qualitative techniques. The findings of the study revealed that the experience of teachers, training on test construction and analysis, level of education, use of Bloom’s taxonomy, moderation of tests and length of tests have an effect on the validity and reliability of the tests. The findings also revealed that each of the factors have a varying level of significance on the validity and reliability of the tests The study concluded those teachers made tests are valid and reliable. The various factors come into play in determination of the level of validity and reliability. There is a lot that needs to be done especially in teacher training in order to improve on the test constructed by the teachers.