Norm-referenced instruments are to criterion-referenced instruments as:

Norm-referenced instruments are to criterion-referenced instruments as:

• A. Group comparison is to individual level of performance
• B. Group comparison is to population norms
• C. Individual level performance is to group norms
• D. Reliability is to validity

Answer: (A)

Norm-referenced tests judge an individual by how their score compares to a group’s norms, while criterion-referenced tests judge whether the individual has met specific standards or criteria. So the essential pairing is comparing to a group (norms) versus evaluating against a standard (criteria). That makes the best match: group comparison corresponds to an individual’s level of performance, within the norm-referenced/criterion-referenced contrast. The other options don’t fit because they either mix the elements in a way that describes norms rather than the comparative relationship, reverse the relationship, or bring in a different concept (reliability vs validity) that isn’t part of this analogy.

Norm-referenced tests judge an individual by how their score compares to a group’s norms, while criterion-referenced tests judge whether the individual has met specific standards or criteria. So the essential pairing is comparing to a group (norms) versus evaluating against a standard (criteria). That makes the best match: group comparison corresponds to an individual’s level of performance, within the norm-referenced/criterion-referenced contrast.

The other options don’t fit because they either mix the elements in a way that describes norms rather than the comparative relationship, reverse the relationship, or bring in a different concept (reliability vs validity) that isn’t part of this analogy.