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A Review of the LSAT Using Literature on Legal Reasoning. Law School Admission Council Computerized Testing Report. LSAC Research Report Series.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Review of the LSAT Using Literature on Legal Reasoning. Law School Admission Council Computerized Testing Report. LSAC Research Report Series.
Language: English
Authors: Plumer, Gilbert E., Law School Admission Council, Princeton, NJ.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2000
Document Type: Information Analyses
Descriptors: Adaptive Testing, College Entrance Examinations, Computer Assisted Testing, Law Schools, Literature Reviews, Skills, Test Items
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Law School Admission Test
Abstract: In the context of examining the feasibility and advisability of computerizing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), a review of current literature was conducted with the following goals: (1) determining the skills that are most important in good legal reasoning according to the literature; (2) determining the extent to which existing LSAT item types and subtypes are designed to assess these skills; and (3) suggesting test specifications and new or refined item types that could be developed to assess any such skills. Overall, the findings validate the current LSAT, with its existing item types and subtypes and their mix. The skills identified as important in recent literature on legal reasoning are the ones on which the LSAT focuses, reasoning and text comprehension and analysis. Some areas for change were identified at the level of specific skill categories. Some new test specifications and item types and formats are suggested as possible ways of aligning the skills that the LSAT is designed to assess. (Contains 38 references.) (SLD)
Entry Date: 2003
Accession Number: ED467818
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:In the context of examining the feasibility and advisability of computerizing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), a review of current literature was conducted with the following goals: (1) determining the skills that are most important in good legal reasoning according to the literature; (2) determining the extent to which existing LSAT item types and subtypes are designed to assess these skills; and (3) suggesting test specifications and new or refined item types that could be developed to assess any such skills. Overall, the findings validate the current LSAT, with its existing item types and subtypes and their mix. The skills identified as important in recent literature on legal reasoning are the ones on which the LSAT focuses, reasoning and text comprehension and analysis. Some areas for change were identified at the level of specific skill categories. Some new test specifications and item types and formats are suggested as possible ways of aligning the skills that the LSAT is designed to assess. (Contains 38 references.) (SLD)