Methodologic trends in the healthcare professions: computer adaptive and computer simulation testing

Assessing knowledge and performance on computer is rapidly becoming a common phenomenon in testing and measurement. Computer adaptive testing presents an individualized test format in accordance with the examinee's ability level. The efficiency of the testing process enables a more precise estimate of performance, often with fewer items than traditional paper-and-pencil testing methodologies. Computer simulation testing involves performance-based, or authentic, assessment of the examinee's clinical decision-making abilities. The authors discuss the trends in assessing performance through computerized means and the application of these methodologies to community-based nursing practice.