Computerized assessment strategies and anxiety: A comparative study in a risk sample

The effects of computerised adaptive tests and self-adapted tests on state anxiety are not well determined nor understood. The current work carried out a new comparison between a computerised adaptive test and a self-adapted test that differs from previous ones in two respects: a) Two indices of anxiety were registered (the State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and the electrodermal response), and b) tests were applied to a selected sample of high test anxiety students. The results showed no anxiety differences between both tests. Concerning the psychometric results, significant differences emerged on test precision: the computerised adaptive test provided more precise ability values.