Are Simple Gain Scores Obsolete?

Abstract

It is widely believed that measures of gain, growth, or change, expressed as simple differences between pretest and posttest scores, are inherently unreliable. It is also believed that gain scores lack predictive validity with respect to other criteria. However, these conclu sions are based on misleading assumptions about the values of parameters in familiar equations in classical test theory. The present paper examines modified equa tions for the validity and reliability of difference scores that describe applied testing situations more realisti cally and reveal that simple gain scores can be more useful in research than commonly believed.