GLOSSARY OF ASSESSMENT TERMS
A C
Assessment
is the systematic, reported evaluation of
student outcomes for demonstrating
effectiveness and improving offerings.
Assessment for Accountability
The assessment of some unit, such as a
department, program or entire
institution, which is used to satisfy some
group of external stakeholders.
Stakeholders might include accreditation
agencies, state government, or trustees.
Assessment for Improvement
Assessment activities that are designed
to feed the results directly, and ideally,
immediately, back into revising the
course, program or institution with the
goal of improving student learning. Both
formative and summative assessment
data can be used to guide
improvements.
Authentic Assessment
Assessment strategies that require
students to directly reveal their ability to
think critically and to apply and
synthesize their knowledge.
Cognitive Domain
Outcomes of education involving
thinking and content knowledge, logic,
classification and problem solving.
D
Demonstrations
Performances that show skills students
have mastered. Theatre students might
be assessed on their acting skills
demonstrated in theatrical productions.
Direct Measures 
Activities by students that directly
demonstrate learning. They include both
objective exams and performance
measures such as evaluations of
demonstrations, internships, and
portfolios that are evaluated by
individuals other than the instructor.
Direct Assessment of Learning
Direct assessment is when measures of
learning are based on student
performance or demonstrates the
learning itself
E Formative Assessment
Formative assessment refers to the
Embedded Assessment gathering of infomation or data about
A means of gathering information about student learning during a course or
student learning that is integrated into program that is used to guide
the teaching-learning process. improvements in teaching and learning.

External Assessment
Use of criteria (rubric) or an instrument H
developed by an individual or
High stakes Assessment
organization external to the one being
The decision to use the results of
assessed.
assessment to set a hurdle that needs
to be cleared for completing a program
F of study, receiving certification, or
Focus groups are carefully planned moving to the next level.
group discussions conducted by trained
moderators. A small number of I
questions, developed in advance, is
Indirect Assessment of Learning
used to generate in-depth consideration
Indirect assessments use perceptions,
of a narrowly defined topic. Focus reflections or secondary evidence to
groups examine perceptions, feelings, make inferences about student learning.
attitudes and ideas. A focus group could
Individual Assessment
be used to assess student satisfaction
Uses the individual student, and his/her
with the General Studies program.
learning, as the level of analysis. Can be
quantitative or qualitative, formative or
Formal Observation
summative, standards-based or value
Involves experts watching and
added, and used for improvement.
evaluating student performance.
Students working in a group to solve a Institutional Assessment
Uses the institution as the level of
problem could be the object of formal
analysis. The assessment can be
observation.
quantitative or qualitative, formative or
summative, standards-based or value
added, and used for improvement or for
accountability.
L Quantitative Assessment
Local Assessment
Means and methods that are developed
by an institution's faculty based on their
teaching approaches, students, and
learning goals.
P examination or survey, will produce
Performance Measures are
assessment methods based on student
activities or products, as opposed to
tests or surveys, to evaluate students'
knowledge, skill and development.
Program Assessment
Uses the department or program as the
level of analysis. Can be quantitative or
qualitative, formative or summative,
standards-based or value added, and
used for improvement or for
accountability. 
Q of accomplishment that all students are
Qualitative Assessment
Collects data that does not lend itself to
quantitative methods but rather to
interpretive criteria.
Collects data that can be analyzed using
quantitative methods.
R
Reliability means an assessment
instrument, such as a comprehensive
consistent results over time. With a
reliable instrument, differences in results
among subjects will be due to
differences in knowledge or opinions,
rather than as a result of measurement
error. In performance-based
assessment, a participant should
receive similar scores from the
evaluators
S
Standards
Standards refer to an established level
expected to meet or exceed. Standards
do not imply standardization of a
program or of testing.
Survey
A method of collecting information from
people about their characteristics,
behaviors, attitudes, or perceptions.

Survey research 
Is one tool of cross-sectional analysis
and it usually relies upon a statistically
valid sampling technique.

Summative Assessment
The gathering of information at the
conclusion of a course, program, or
undergraduate career to improve
learning or to meet accountability
demands.

References:

https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/ba
sics/glossary.html

https://www.umk.edu/academic_affairs/a
ssessment/glossary.php

https://www.davidsongifted.org/seacrh-
database/entry/a10461