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Fact or Fiction?
Debunking Common Myths
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Part 1 of a 3-Part Series
Myth: The NCIDQ Examination is put together by a bunch of interior designers who don't know anything about testing.Fiction: The first issue we must address is known as "validity." There are two types of validity - construct validity and face validity.
Construct validity means that tests must measure what they purport to measure. Therefore, the NCIDQ Examination must measure interior design knowledge, skills and abilities and not some other constructs, such as historical knowledge, math skills, drafting skills, etc.
This doesn't mean that we don't test these things; it means that we have to test the related skills that are unique to interior designers' knowledge. For example, in a question that requires doing math calculations, we don't test math skills common to most adults, but we test something unique to what an interior designer should be able to do, such as calculating yardage of a fabric. We have to use math skills to get at that knowledge, but the construct being tested is what is unique to interior design.
The second type of validity is known as face validity. This means that the test should look like what interior designers do in daily practice. In thinking about face validity in other professions' licensure exams, dentists take a multiple-choice exam and are tested on practical skills using real patients who need real dental work (root canals, teeth cleanings, etc.).
This type of exam offers the public some sense that the skills tested are similar to the skills needed in practice. In other words, on the face of it, it seems like dentists are tested on what they are expected to do. The same holds true for the NCIDQ Examination. We have a design practicum section of the exam because it looks like what interior designers do in practice.
To prove that a credentialing exam is valid, NCIDQ must conduct research on a regular basis. In 2008 we conducted a practice analysis research project. This project's goal was to learn what it is that interior designers do in practice every day and then create a new test specification to match the knowledge, skills and abilities that interior designers use in practice.
NCIDQ has conducted similar research in the past. Our 2003 research project resulted in very minor changes to the exam that were implemented in 2004. Results from the 2008 practice analysis will be seen in the exam in 2010 and beyond. The end result of the practice analysis research is that the exam can be proven valid in that it tests those aspects of what an interior designer does in practice that affects the public health, safety and welfare.
The 2008 Practice Analysis Research Report is available on our Web site under the "Publications" heading.
We'll continue this series of articles in our September and October issues of the QLetter.
Have a common NCIDQ myth you'd like dispelled? E-mail us at news@ncidq.org! |
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NCIDQ has five continuing education courses to choose from! Each monograph comes with an open-book quiz you can take on your schedule to earn 0.6 CEUs in health, life safety and welfare. Active Certificate holders save 10 percent on all NCIDQ monographs!
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NCIDQ's Mission
To protect the health, life safety and welfare of the public by establishing standards of competence in the practice of interior design. |
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www.ncidq.org
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Greetings,
Welcome to the August edition of the QLetter, your electronic source for NCIDQ news and updates, industry announcements and calls to action.
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NCIDQ Updates Practicum Examination; Changes Begin in 2010
NCIDQ is changing the exam in 2010. The modifications ensure that the examination continues to test the knowledge and skills of interior designers. Every five years, NCIDQ conducts a comprehensive survey of the profession. A task force of practicing interior designers evaluates the results and makes recommendations regarding the content of the exam, when necessary. This ensures that the NCIDQ Examination remains a reliable measure of the competence of entry-level interior design professionals to protect the public's health, life safety and welfare.
"The design practicum section of the exam represents what interior designers do in daily practice," says NCIDQ Executive Director Jeffrey F. Kenney. "This ensures that NCIDQ is testing the right material in the most reliable and valid format."
Beginning in April 2010, the interior design practicum, Section 3 of the NCIDQ Examination, will be an eight-hour exam. The exam will be a series of seven unique exercises that will focus on the following areas: space planning, lighting design, egress, life safety, restroom (washroom) design, systems integration and millwork. The practicum exam will continue to be hand-drafted and will include both commercial and residential components.
"These smaller exercises allow exam candidates to clearly demonstrate their entry-level competence on discrete subject areas," says Kenney. "For example, the space planning exercise will not be based on the same scenario as the millwork exercise. Each exercise will be independent of the others."
All project descriptions, project code requirements, project design requirements and the list of drawings will be provided in examination booklets. The size of the drawing sheets will increase to 18" x 24", and the scales will vary according to the project size and amount of detail required to be shown.
NCIDQ will continue to score the practicum exam on its adherence to programmatic and code information. Each exam will continue to receive two independent gradings. Borderline exams will continue to receive a third grading by a grading coordinator.
NCIDQ is preparing new preparatory materials for the 2010 exam, which will be available this fall. The NCIDQ Examination is given twice a year in more than 60 locations in the United States and Canada.
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NCIDQ Fact or Fiction Starts Three-Part Series
The Myth: The NCIDQ Examination is put together by a bunch of interior designers who don't know anything about testing.
Fiction: Credentialing
and licensure exams must be valid, reliable and fair. NCIDQ follows the
same standards for developing, administering and scoring the exam as
virtually all other exams of similar gravitas. We follow the guidelines
published in The Standards for Educational and Psychological Tests
(published jointly by the American Psychological Association, the
National Council on Measurement in Education and the American
Educational Research Association). These Standards spell out policies
that NCIDQ follows to ensure that we administer a valid, fair and
reliable test.
NCIDQ will explain exam validity, reliability and fairness in a three-part series. Part 1 of the series can be read on the left. |
The New View of NCIDQ
We have settled into our new office and we have some beautiful pictures to reveal!
Our new space reflects our role in the design community by being both educational and inspirational. Combined with sustainably responsible design practices, the space showcases the spirit of innovative design.
All aspects of our new space tell a unique story of the profession. As you walk through the office you are taking a walk through the history of design as well - from the iconic wood, plastic and metal chairs that represent technological advancements in design, to the textiles ranging from hand loomed, wool and nylon fibers to more current recycled and sustainable materials.
 "Perkins + Will worked closely with NCIDQ to plan a functional, efficient, collaborative and healthy environment for the NCIDQ staff," says Perkins + Will Principal Tama Duffy Day. "But in addition, [Perkins + Will] formed the space to allow two additional user groups of the NCIDQ office their own domain - the NCIDQ volunteers and the NCIDQ Board of Directors. The board room, work room and pantry were intentionally grouped and placed away from the workspace - allowing volunteers and the Board areas that were visually and acoustically separate."
"We are so proud of the outcome of this collaboration and are looking forward to new accomplishments made within this space in the years to come," says NCIDQ Executive Director Jeffrey F. Kenney. "One such accomplishment would be to achieve LEED CI silver for our space. Perkins + Will helped us design a space where the health, safety and welfare of everyone who steps into ou r office are taken into consideration. Sustainability was a key component to the design, with water reduction and energy-efficient main elements. Products were chosen carefully for characteristics such as recycled content, local manufacturing, low VOCs, FSC-certified wood and formaldehyde-free adhesives. The subway-accessible location allows every staff member to use public transportation for their daily commute. We couldn't be happier with our new space."
Check out some of the professional photographs on our office move blog.
All office photographs by Ken Hayden photography/Perkins+Will design |
Certificate Holder Survey
In 2008 we surveyed active NCIDQ Certificate holders on a number of areas. In the next few issues we will reveal those results.
We surveyed more than 6400 NCIDQ Certificate holders throughout the United States and Canada. NCIDQ collects this information to gain a better understanding of who its Certificate holders are in order to better serve you.
From this survey we learned that the majority category of our Certificate holders have been working in the industry for more than 20 years, and many of them specialize in corporate/office design. More than 80% of NCIDQ Certificate holders work full time as designers, and 88% percent are female. Below are some charts that break down some of the results.
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Sincerely,
NCIDQ
E-mail: news@ncidq.org
Phone: 202-721-0220
Fax: 202-721-0221
Web Site: http://www.ncidq.org
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