Testing a linear relation between true scores of two measures

de Walter Kristof, Educational Testing Service

We concern ourselves with the hypothesis that two variables have a perfect disattenuated correlation, hence measure the same trait except for errors of measurement. This hypothesis is equivalent to saying, with the adopted model, that true scores of two psychological tests satisfy a linear relation. Statistical tests of this hypothesis are derived when the relation is specified with the exception of the additive constant. Two approaches are presented and various assumptions concerning the error parameters are used. Then the results are reinterpreted in terms of the possible existence of an unspecified linear relation between true scores of two psychological tests. A numerical example is appended by way of illustration.