THE PEN-BASED COMPUTER AS AN ALTERNATIVE PLATFORM FOR TEST ADMINISTRATION

Pen-based computers are similar to paper and pencil (P&P) tests in the method of responding, and thus, may more closely match paper and penc il administration in construct equivalence than keyboard-entry compute rs. A study was conducted comparing P&P, pen-based notebook computer, and keyboard-entry PC versions of two test batteries. Participants com pleted tests administered using different administration modes on sepa rate days; construct equivalence was evaluated by comparing Day 1-Day 2 correlations across conditions. Although construct equivalence was f ound for the power tests, differences emerged for the speeded tests. F or the pen-based computer, solid evidence of equivalence to P&P appear ed for all but one of the speeded tests, whereas the keyboard PC showe d borderline equivalence for only one of the three speeded tests. Thes e findings suggested that the pen-entry computer may be more capable t han the keyboard-entry computer in maintaining construct equivalence t o P&P tests.