Research Article
Evaluating the Content Validity of Grade 10 Mathematics Model
Examinations in Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
Getinet Alemayehu Wole ,
1
Solomon Fufa,
1
and Yilfashewa Seyoum
2
1
Mathematics Department, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
2
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Correspondence should be addressed to Getinet Alemayehu Wole; getalem2014@gmail.com
Received 14 July 2021; Revised 21 October 2021; Accepted 29 November 2021; Published 21 December 2021
Academic Editor: Ehsan Namaziandost
Copyright © 2021 Getinet Alemayehu Wole et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
is article purports to analyze the content validity of model examinations for grade 10 mathematics. e study looked at the
model tests to evaluate if they were indicative of the course content and emphasized on the syllabus’ learning outcomes. A survey
design with six years of mathematics model exam, syllabi, and textbooks served as the key data sources was considered in the
study. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and chi-square test of statistical treatment were used to analyze the quantitative data
obtained. In addition, the qualitative data were evaluated using narration and description. e study’s statistical findings revealed
that there was no relationship between test items and learning outcomes in cognitive domain categories or main textbook content.
As a result, the exam items did not correspond to the syllabus’s objectives and content. Furthermore, the qualitative data revealed
that the test items were unclear, poorly laid out, and multidimensional, as well as having low content validity.
1. Introduction
A test or examination is an educational assessment to assess
student’s learning. Examinations are not meant to trick
students or confuse them. Examinations should be related to
important learning outcomes, objectives, goals, and/or
course competencies. Scholars in the field of measurement
evaluation consider examinations for three reasons [1]. First,
examinations help to evaluate students and determine if they
are learning what a teacher expect. Second, well-designed
tests inspire and structure students’ academic endeavors.
Students study according to how they expect to be tested. It
is easy to memorize facts, but it is difficult to comprehend
and apply information. ird, tests can assess teacher’s
presentation skills. In addition to reinforcing learning, tests
can help students identify areas of weakness and focus their
study efforts [2].
According to Coombe, Folse, and Hubley [5], exami-
nations are systematic procedures administered to get in-
formation about students’ performance. e results of
examinations not only reflect students’ level of success, but
they also give information to stakeholders about the other
components of teaching process. e information provided
can be used to make decisions in a variety of educational
situations [4]. Brown [3] stated that a well-designed ex-
amination or test is a tool that provides an accurate measure
of the test-taker’s ability within a particular domain. Ac-
cordingly, for tests to help stakeholders make relevant de-
cisions, they must possess two important characteristics,
namely, validity and reliability. Teachers should pay atten-
tion to and check whether measurement tools function for
the purposes that they are intended to serve or not. is
means that when tests do not attain the quality of truth-
fulness, teachers are not advised to use tools for decision-
making. Hence, in preparation of tests, teachers need to look
into and take practical measures to enhance the validity and
reliability of their classroom tests [6].
Tests in mathematics are supposed to be valid and re-
liable measures of ability. e extent to which teachers are
able to construct and apply valid assessment instruments is
determined by their understanding of validity as a means of
ensuring classroom assessment quality. As an example,
Hindawi
Education Research International
Volume 2021, Article ID 5837931, 11 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5837931