Games as Stealth Assessments

In the world of assessment, traditional methods often fall short, providing limited insight into individuals' skills and abilities while being susceptible to response biases. Recognizing these shortcomings, researchers have delved into the realm of stealth assessments, a novel approach that embeds traditional measurement techniques within a game-based environment. By seamlessly integrating assessment into gameplay, stealth assessments offer a contextually rich and unobtrusive method of data collection, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the constructs being assessed. Games as Stealth Assessments unveils the promising field of stealth assessment, exploring its design considerations, research methods, and practical applications. Drawing upon a foundation of psychometrically-sound assessment practices, this book delves into the intersection of thoughtful game design and empirical support for the use of stealth assessments. It justifies the adoption of stealth assessments in academic disciplines such as mathematics, science, and literacy, as well as in the assessment of psychological constructs like aggression, social skills, and self-regulation. Catering to instructors, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of Curriculum and Instruction, Media Psychology, Applied Psychology, and Educational Psychology, this comprehensive guide offers a framework for designing, developing, and conducting research in the emerging field of stealth assessment. Covering essential topics such as the history of stealth assessments, evidence models, technical architecture, psychometrics, data mining, and game design principles, this book equips readers with the knowledge and tools needed to harness the power of stealth assessments effectively. Through a systematic review of stealth assessments, readers gain insights into successful strategies for assessing specific constructs and capturing their manifestation over time and context. The book also provides practical guidelines, highlighting the do's and don'ts of stealth assessments, ensuring that practitioners can navigate this innovative assessment approach with confidence.