Roundtable event

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
1725 Duke Street, Suite 700, Alexandria, VA 22314\

Join your certification colleagues for the annual CNG Roundtable Event!

CNG is bringing together industry experts to discuss topics pertinent to your work.  The focus for this event is examination development and psychometric topics! Don’t miss this opportunity to network and hear the latest on these topics:

Check out the topics below:

Ready Player One? The Potential Role of Gamification in Certification

Facilitator: Kerrin Puente, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist in HumRRO’s Personnel Selection and Development program

Topic Description: Gamification is defined as the incorporation of game like elements into non-gaming experiences (Deterding et al., 2011), such as assessment or training and development. In this session, we will introduce what gamification is, what it is not, and how it is currently being considered in fields related to certification. We will discuss different experiences and perspectives on gamifying certification, as well as potential opportunities, pitfalls, and other considerations.

Preparing and Managing a Request for Proposals for Testing Services

Facilitator: Lawrence J. Fabrey, Ph.D., Chief Psychometrician, PSI Services, Certification

Topic Description:  The session will be mostly for questions and answers about requests for proposals, following a short description of some of the considerations that are common for most RFPs.

Documenting Exam Development Activities for Accreditation: Requirements and Tips  

Facilitator: Cynthia Allen, MA, President, SeaCrest

Topic Description: Discuss documentation requirements to meet the third-party accreditation requirements specifically of exam development activities.

Nudging Stakeholders to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Exam Program

Facilitator: Cynthia G. Parshall, Ph.D., Touchstone Consulting

Topic Description: Nudges are small or subtle encouragements to help people act in their own best interest. Nudges can be used to help people exercise more, save for retirement, or develop a studying habit. Google and Amazon are just a few of the many organizations making heavy use of behavioral design, though their nudges aren’t always in the person’s best interest.

While nudges have always been used, new evidence from psychology and behavioral economics has identified the strategies that are most effective, along with research methods for increasing their success in a specific setting. In assessment, we can use nudges to support examinees, subject-matter experts (SMEs), staff, and other stakeholders in taking actions they already want to do. And we can improve the exam program in the process.

For example, well-framed and well-timed messages can effectively decrease the number of test-takers who fail to show for a scheduled exam. Our testing programs have many points that can derail candidates, but with nudges we can help them meet registration deadlines, persist in their studies, prepare and take tests honestly, and show up for the test on time. Nudges can also be used with SMEs to increase JTA survey response rates, committee volunteer numbers, and timelier item writing contributions.

This presentation will include an overview of nudges, along with examples of their use, both in assessment and out of it. The presentation will also include a simple research plan for implementing nudges effectively.

Document your Psychometrics

Facilitator: Ellen R. Julian, Ph.D.

Topic Description: Psychometric summary documents are not just for reporting to accreditors and putting in the annual report. They are living documents to help you monitor how your tests are performing – across time, forms and candidate groups. Keeping a running spreadsheet of critical statistics about items and about people allows easy comparisons and prompts important questions such as, “Why did the passing rate drop here?” or “Why are people running out of time on only this form?” Building and monitoring this spreadsheet will facilitate accreditation applications and enable your staff to better track how well the exams are working. Sample spreadsheets will be provided.

Transitioning from Contracted to In-house Psychometric Services

Facilitator: Anjali Weber, MS, CAE, Senior Director of Psychometric and Testing Services, Board of Pharmacy Specialties

Topic Description: Learn about transitioning from contracted to in-house psychometric services and explore the opportunities/benefits of having an in-house psychometric team.

Operationalizing Security Practices for Exam and Candidate Data

Facilitator: Pam Weber, MPA, CAE, Chief Operating Officer, International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)

Topic Description: Security of exam and candidate data has become increasingly important and the public is becoming more aware of how their personal data is being stored, handled, and used. This topic will focus on what your organization can do to operationalize security practices to increase the awareness of staff and volunteers on these issues.