ABSTRACT
Testing means publishing. Eventually, the results of the processes described in previous chapters must be translated into products (tests) for audiences (examinees). Ancillary publicationssuch as guidelines for item writers, test preparation guides for students, administration manuals for proctors, and reports for test users and the public-may also be required. So every testing program encompasses a publishing function and must handle or delegate an array of planning, scheduling, manufacturing, and distribution details. That is, a test developer or agency must build its own publishing wing or else carefully choose a test publisher willing and equipped to faithfully carry out the developer’s intentions. This chapter describes what is required to turn assessment plans into published products-more specifically, into error-free tests that maintain test validity. We hope that the chapter helps test developers and agencies to decide whether, and how, to build in-house publishing capabilities. We hope also that it helps test publishersboth those within a testing agency and those working under commission-to collaborate
successfully with the development teams who brought the tests along to the point at which they are ready for production.
