Technical Manual

Message From CITA’s Director Of Exam Development and Analysis - Delma H. Kinlaw, DDS

We are extremely pleased and very proud of the efforts of the CITA organization, as well as all our member states and educator representatives, in producing what we believe to be the most comprehensive, psychometrically sound, and technologically advanced document chronicling, the creation, evolution and ongoing development of any dental clinical licensure examination.  I am especially appreciative of the efforts of Ms. Celeste Kohler who has worked long hours in a diligent manner on this document, without an established template document to serve as a guide. While it made the creation of this document a more arduous task, it also allowed the document to be developed free of preconception, and highlighted her many talents and contributions to the CITA organization.  Additional thanks also are in order for Mr. Ron Hayes, CITA’s Executive Director, whose leadership has been fundamental to the tremendous success of CITA over these last few years. 

Although this document will serve as a valuable piece of the evidence necessary to establish the CITA examination as a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of candidate skill sets, it only achieves that goal by being open and easily accessible by the public and all who would wish to utilize it as an assessment mechanism. To that end, I have asked that the manual be prominently displayed on the CITA website, and that all aspects of the document be shared for those who would seek additional information regarding the examinations conducted by CITA. Hopefully, as all regional testing agencies move forward, there can be discussion and consensus on the nature and construct of these types of validity evidence.

Sincerely,

Delma H. Kinlaw, DDS
Director of Exam Development and Analysis

Technical Manual Foreword

This is a report of the independent evaluation of the CITA Technical Manual and Job Task Analysis, completed on behalf of the CITA Examination Committee, which reviewed the background, construction, administration, content, scoring and security of the CITA dental and dental hygiene examinations and their administration.  This process included document review, the completion of a job task analysis, comparison of the results to the content domain of the examination, a review of the chronology and methodologies employed in test construction, calibration and standardization of  graders and on site evaluation at testing facilities of the adherence to administration guidelines and protocols. 

This process and/or review of this material was conducted by a Task Analysis Committee comprised of subject matter experts in dentistry, as well as educator representatives from the CITA States.  The Task Analysis Committee performed its evaluation under the direction of two (2) measurement specialists, Dr. Chad Buckendahl formerly of the Buros Institute and currently of Alpine Testing Solutions and Dr. John Nietfeld of the Educational Psychology Department at North Carolina State University.  A detailed summary of the composition and methodology employed by the Task Analysis Committee is set forth as Part II of this document.  The Curriculum Vitae of the members of the Task Analysis Committee, as well as the measurement specialists, are contained in the Curriculum Vitae Attachment Section. 

Any questions about the preparation, format and content of this Technical Manual should be directed to the CITA staff. 

Downloads

In order to view and/or download the material, Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.

Technical Manual

Curriculum Vitae Attachments

Examination Criteria Technical Manual Attachments

Manikin Technical Manual Attachments

Restorative Technical Manual Attachments

Examination Forms Technical Manual Attachments

Grade Sheet Technical Manual Attachments

Database Technical Manual Attachments