Equivalence of conventional and computer presentation of speed tests

Abstract

This study examined the effects of computer presentation on speeded clerical tests. Two ratio scores-average number of correct responses per minute and its inverse, average number of seconds per correct response-were examined as variants of the conventional score, number of correct responses in a fixed interval of time. Ratio scores were more reliable than number-correct scores and were less sensitive to testing time. Tests administered on the computer were found to be at least as reliable as conventionally administered tests, but examinees were much faster in the computer mode. Correlations between paper-and-pencil and computer modes were high, except when task differences were introduced by computer implementation.