KU to host first scholarly conference on detection of test fraud May 23-24

LAWRENCE — The Center for Education Testing and Evaluation at the University of Kansas will host the Conference on Statistical Detection of Potential Test Fraud on May 23-24. The conference will be the first scholarly conference focusing on statistical approaches to identifying test fraud, a growing concern as methods of test administration evolve and new ways of committing test fraud increase.

“Test fraud undermines test validity and discredits the integrity of test results,” said Neal Kingston, director of the center. “This conference provides researchers with the opportunity to learn about, share and discuss those statistical methods that testing organizations have developed and used over the years to look for test fraud. We’re excited to provide this forum for scholars and those working in the testing field to examine a variety of test fraud methods with their colleagues in a conference format, something that has not happened before.”

The conference is made possible by the generous support of sponsoring organizations: ACT Inc., Caveon Test Security, College Board, Data Recognition Corporation, Educational Testing Service, Graduate Management Admission Council, Law School Admission Council, Pearson and the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment.

Themes of the conference sessions include:
• Answer changing behaviors (including erasure analysis)
• Macro-level cheating (schools)
• Similarities in test responses
• Detection of aberrant responses
• The use of multiple statistical methods to detect test fraud
• Test security

The conference will take place in the Kansas Union. Conference registration costs $75. Registration deadline is April 20. Visit the conference website to register online or to download a registration form, which includes hotel information.

Registration fee includes bus transportation options to and from Lawrence from the Kansas City International Airport, transportation from Lawrence hotels to the conference facility and all meals.

Visit the conference website for a full schedule, hotel information and details on the presenters and their sessions. For more information, call (785) 864-9690 or by e-mail.

For more than 30 years, the Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation has developed cutting-edge, large-scale testing programs and technology tools, including the Kansas Assessment Program, Dynamic Learning Maps, KWIET writing tool and Adaptive Reading Motivation Measures. It has partnered with the Kansas State Department of Education to deliver a variety of assessment services under the Kansas Assessment Program, the comprehensive assessment system Kansas schools use to determine whether a student learns the intended curriculum. The center also offers online training resources, practice tests and tutorials to help prepare students and educators for the Kansas assessments.