Koejaotust

Koejaotust is a theoretical concept used in the context of test design and statistical sampling, particularly in Estonian-language discussions of assessment development. The term combines notions related to testing (koe) and distribution or allocation (jaotust), referring to systematic methods for distributing test content, items, or stimuli across forms, groups, or categories.

The central idea of koejaotust is to achieve representative coverage of a domain while preserving fairness and comparability between different test forms or samples. This typically involves stratification or quota-like approaches to ensure that content areas, difficulty levels, and other relevant characteristics are proportionally represented. Controlled randomization is often employed to maintain variability within forms without compromising overall structural balance.

Procedures associated with koejaotust usually start with an item pool and a defined population of test forms or groups. Researchers specify distribution rules—for example, how many items from each content domain should appear in every form, or how difficulty levels should be balanced across groups. Items are then allocated according to these rules, sometimes with randomness to reduce predictability, while maintaining form equivalence in psychometric properties.

Applications of koejaotust include large-scale educational testing, high-stakes assessments, and research surveys where multiple test forms or samples must be comparable. Benefits include improved content coverage, reduced form bias, and enhanced measurement reliability. Limitations involve the need for a robust item bank, careful planning, and the risk of overconstraining forms if rules are too rigid.