Knowledge Test Development for Use in Social Work Student Outcomes Assessment

Abstract

Purpose: This article describes the process used to develop and pilot the Social Work Education Assessment Project (SWEAP) Curriculum instrument, a standardized multiple-choice test developed to assess student knowledge as it relates to each of the nine generalist practice competencies of the 2015 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Method: An expert panel evaluated instrument construct, content, and face validity. Test–retest reliability analysis was conducted on nine pilot instruments. Further reliability analysis was conducted on 2382 instruments. Results: Analyses support the validity and reliability of the SWEAP Curriculum Instrument. Discussion: Knowledge is one of the four dimensions that relate to each of the nine generalist practice-level social work competencies identified in EPAS 2015. Therefore, the evaluation of student knowledge is a vital component of social work program assessment. The SWEAP Curriculum Instrument is just one possible method for measuring student competency related to the knowledge dimension.