Assessment Research Internship – Summer 2020

Job Summary:

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is seeking a well-qualified individual for an internship opportunity to gain experience in assessment research. The intern will work with the National Board’s psychometrician to determine which research projects to pursue and will assist with research in support of the National Board’s test development processes and psychometric methodologies. The Summer Assessment Research Internship will start on or around June 4, 2020; the specific date will be determined by the intern and the mentor and last approximately two months.

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

The intern and mentor will work together to define a research question; review related research; conduct data analyses; and write a report. The final research project will be determined based on a combination of intern interest and research importance. Research projects are summarized below.

Evidence of Content Validity

The National Board has data to be analyzed to strengthen evidence of its assessment’s content validity.  This research project will involve analyzing data on how well the Component 1: Content Knowledge items align with the standards or content specifications and preparing a report on the findings.

Content Validation Study

Design of a content validation study is underway for the National Board’s new assessment of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). By carrying out a content validation study, the National Board wishes to establish how National Board Certified Teachers, i.e., SMEs in the area of accomplished teaching, view the tasks required of MOC in terms representativeness and relevancy to the standards and Five Core Propositions that underpin Board certification. The study is expected to take place in summer 2020. This study will involve facilitating an online study and/or analyzing data on the fly, along with writing up results of the study.

Timing Analyses

How much time do candidates use on the selected- and constructed response items of Component 1: Content Knowledge? Are there differences in testing time or behavior across race/ethnicity and sex? This research project will involve reviewing previously conducted research, knowledge of testing time analyses, conducting analyses on response and completion times for the entire set of Component 1 forms for all certificate areas, and preparing a report of the research.

Longitudinal Research on Item Performance

As part of the National Board’s initiative to monitor the health of its item bank, the intern will examine the temporal stability of test items over a course of several years.

Summary of Experience and Required Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

  • Graduate student from an accredited university preferably in educational measurement, curriculum studies, statistics, research methods, or a related field ; quantitative psychology or education measurement with an emphasis on psychometrics and statistical data analysis; completion of two or more years of graduate coursework.
  • Intern will be assigned to one mentor, but must be able to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
  • Competency in the use of and his/her own access to statistical software.
  • Ability to manage large data sets.
  • Strong research, analytical, writing, and communication skills.
  • Must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. If selected, F-1 holders will need to apply for Curricular Practical Training authorization through their school’s international student office, and have a social security number for payroll purposes.

Position Type and expected hours of work:

  • This is a Part Time Temporary position for a Time Limited Assignment beginning on or around June 4, 2020 and lasting up to two months.

Location:

  • Arlington, VA or Remote Telework

Compensation:

  • Total compensation for the two months is approximately $4000.

To Apply:

Please email the following by April 10, 2020 to: intern@nbpts.org

  1. A cover letter including your research area(s) of interest, what you hope to achieve from the internship,  what you can contribute to the organization, and evidence of your ability to work independently on a research project,
  2. your current resume or curriculum vitae, and
  3. two letters of recommendations (one must be from your academic advisor).

All applicants will be notified of selection decisions by April 27, 2020.

NBPTS is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages diversity in its hiring and employment practices.

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled