Choosing Minimum Passing Scores by Stochastic Approximation Techniques

Often a written test is used as an inexpensive substitute for a performance aeasure. A specified ainiaum perforaance level or probability of successful perforaance can be translated into a ainimua passing score for the written test most efficiently by aeasuring the perforaance of students whose written test scores are near the desired cutoff score. Stochastic approximation methods accoaplish this purpose. The up-and-down aethod and the Robbins-Monro process are presented, discussed, and compared. (Author) Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpublished * aterials not available from other sources. ERIC akes every effort * * tc obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, iteas of marginal * * reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the guality * * of the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERIC sakes available * * via the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS).. EDRS is not * responsible for the guality of the original document. Reproductions * * supplied by EDRS are the best that can be Bade f=om the original. *