Two-Way Specification Table
Updated 2026-08-11
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A two-way specification table is a planning instrument for assessment design: one axis lists the content domains, the other lists the cognitive levels from remembering through evaluating, and each cell records how many items or how much weight falls in that intersection. Its purpose is content validity, that the test measures what it claims to measure in the proportions intended, which is exactly what an unplanned test loses by drifting toward whatever the author found easiest to write.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Set both axes: list content topics on one and cognitive levels on the other. - Weight the cells: distribute items according to the intended emphasis. - Check the totals: verify the margins match what the assessment claims.
Anchor fast decisions
An assessment's validity depends on coverage, and an author writing items freely drifts toward familiar content and lower cognitive levels. The table makes coverage visible as a grid, so drift becomes a measurable deviation from the plan rather than an invisible habit, and the margins can be checked against the stated objectives.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- koreascience.or.krhttps://koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200726650737555.pdfverified
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