GED Candidate Computer Familiarity Survey - GED Testing Service

2006 Computer Familiarity 12
Only 7 of the 19 who indicated it is unlikely they would have tested provided a
written comment. Two shared personal physical difficulties with testing on computer,
three raised issues related to lack of computer familiarity, one comment promoted
keeping the tests the way they have always been, and one comment appeared to reflect
comfort with taking a computer-based test.
Discussion
By surveying a random, stratified sample of recent GED candidates about their
computer use and access, this study attempted to address the concern of a potential loss of
a significant portion of the GED candidate population if only a computer-based format of
the GED Tests were to be available. Additionally, it is the responsibility of GEDTS to
provide a test that is free of measuring construct-irrelevant variance for the entire GED
candidate population. That is, the test scores on a measure of educational achievement
should not be affected by computer familiarity, access, and/or use if those are not
constructs being measured by the test.
This study provided initial results on GED candidates’ familiarity with, access to,
and/or use of computers as well as their test format preference and likelihood of testing
had the GED Tests been offered only in a computer-based format. The majority of the
survey respondents indicated they (a) have had experience with a computer-based test,
(b) use a computer about once a week or more often, (c) would prefer a computer-based
format and (d) would still have taken the GED Tests if they had been offered only in a
computer-based format.
Although these results are positive in regard to candidates’ reactions to the
possibility of a computer-based format of the GED Tests, the study has its limitations.
First, the use of addresses from the GED International Database resulted in the removal