Keynote Address

International High-Stakes Online Testing: Best Practices for Test Security and Data Privacy

David Foster, Ph.D.
Kryterion, Inc.

Abstract

More than ever it is important for organizations to measure the skills, talents and knowledge of people worldwide. Many certification programs, such as those in the information technology, medical and financial industries, are global in scope. University and college admissions programs receive applications from around the world. Pre-employment screening exams are used by companies to recruit potential employees at a worldwide level. Online universities and colleges are offering need to evaluate their students’ knowledge regardless of where they live. The mobility of the worldwide workforce and student population, and the use of the Internet for marketing, communication, education, and assessment are recent and important factors which support these trends. As these tests and assessments lead to important or high-stakes decisions that affect the lives of individuals it is important that they are psychometrically sound, administered securely, and protect the privacy of examinees. The latter two are the subject of this keynote address. It will address several important questions. What are the more critical security risks when testing globally? What can be done today to reduce these risks? What promising new innovations in security are on the horizon? What are the specific data privacy issues to consider when providing a global testing program and enforcing critical security rules.