Tony Albano

Dr. Tony Albano is an Associate Professor in the School of Education where he teaches courses in testing, assessment, and data science. His research aims broadly to improve teaching and learning via effective educational and psychological measurement, including through improvements in psychometric methods for scaling and modeling assessment results, and through enhanced accessibility in test design and implementation. Dr. Albano collaborates on projects examining best practices in instruction and assessment with emergent bilingual students, computerized adaptive testing technologies in early education, and culturally responsive pedagogy in higher education.

Education

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, May, 2012
Program: Educational Psychology

B.S., Brigham Young University, 2006
Program: Psychology

Professional Experience

Associate Professor, School of Education, University of California, Davis, 2019 – Present

Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2018 – 2019

Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2012 – 2018

Research Interests

Computerized adaptive testing; accessibility in testing; validity; item response theory; linking and equating; differential item functioning; quantitative methods

Teaching

Current Courses

• UCD: EDU 119: Use and Misuse of Standardized Testing
• UCD: EDU 203: Educational Testing and Evaluation
• UCD: EDU 204A: Quantitative Methods in Educational Research: Experimental Designs
• UCD: EDU 292: Advanced Measurement
• UCD: EDU 286A: Data-Driven Decision-Making

Publications

Journal Articles

1. Albano, A. D. (2021). Commentary: Social responsibility in college admissions requires a reimagining of standardized testing. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 40, 49–52.
2. Cai, L., Albano, A. D., & Roussos, L. A. (2021). An investigation of item calibration methods in multistage testing. Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives, 19, 163–178.
3. Albano, A. D., Mcconnell, S. R., Lease, E. M., & Cai, L. (2020). Contextual interference effects in early assessment: Evaluating the psychometric benefits of item interleaving. Frontiers in Education, 5 (133), 1–9.
4. Peteranetz, M. S. & Albano, A. D. (2020). Development and evaluation of the Nebraska Assessment of Computing Knowledge. Frontiers in Computer Science, 2 (11), 1–8.
5. Albano, A. D., & Wiberg, M. (2019). Linking with external covariates: Examining accuracy by anchor type, test length, ability difference, and sample size. Applied Psychological Measurement, 43, 597–610.
6. Zhang, J., Wang, L., Deng, X., Fei, G., Jin, L., Pan, X., Cai, L., Albano, A. D., & Zhong, C.(2019). Five-minute cognitive test as a new quick screening of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Aging and Disease, 10 (6), 1258–1269.
7. Albano, A. D., Cai, L., Lease, E. M., & McConnell, S. R. (2019) Computerized adaptive testing in early education: Exploring the impact of item position effects on ability estimation. Journal of Educational Measurement, 56, 437–451.
8. Beck, M. F., Albano, A. D., & Smith, W. (2019). Person-fit as an index of inattentive responding: A comparison of methods using polytomous survey data. Applied Psychological Measurement, 43, 374–387.
9. Albano, A. D., Christ, T. J., & Cai, S. (2018). Evaluating equating in progress monitoring measures using multilevel modeling. Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives, 16, 168–180.
10. Kutaka, T. S., Smith, W. M., Albano, A. D., Edwards, C. P., Ren, L., Beattie, H. L., & Lewis, J. W. (2017). Connecting teacher professional development and student mathematics achievement: A four-year study of an elementary mathematics specialist program. Journal of Teacher Education, 68, 140–154.
11. Albano, A. D.(2016). equate: An R package for observed-score linking and equating. Journal of Statistical Software, 74(8), 1–36.
12. Wyse, A. E., & Albano, A. D. (2015). Considering the use of general and modified assessment items in computer adaptive testing. Applied Measurement in Education, 28, 156–167.
13. Albano, A. D.(2015). A general linear method for equating with small samples. Journal of Educational Measurement, 52, 55–69.
14. Miller, B. G., Cox, C. J., Hougham, R. J., Walden, V. P., Eitel, K. B., & Albano, A. D.(2015). Adventure learning as a curricular approach that transcends geographies and connects people to place. The Curriculum Journal, 26, 290–312.
15. Bradfield, T., Besner, A., Wackerle-Hollman, A., Albano, A. D., Rodriguez, M. C. & McConnell, S. (2014). Redefining Individual Growth and Development Indicators: Oral Language. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 39, 233–244.
16. Albano, A. D. (2013). Multilevel modeling of item position effects. Journal of Educational Measurement, 50, 408–426.
17. Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2013). Examining differential math performance by gender and opportunity to learn. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 73, 836–856.
18. Babcock, B., & Albano, A. D.(2012). Rasch scale stability in the presence of item parameter and trait drift. Applied Psychological Measurement, 36, 565–580.
19. Babcock, B., Albano, A. D., & Raymond, M. R. (2012). Nominal weights mean equating: A method for very small samples. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 72, 608–628.
20. Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2012). Statistical equating with measures of oral reading fluency. Journal of School Psychology, 50, 43–59.
21. Nelson, D. A., Robinson, C. C., Hart, C. H., Albano, A. D., & Marshall, S. J. (2010). Italian preschoolers’ peer-status linkages with sociability and subtypes of aggression and victimization. Social Development, 19, 698–720.

Books

1. Rodriguez, M. C., & Albano, A. D.(2017). The college instructor’s guide to writing test items: Measuring student learning. New York, NY: Routledge.
2. Albano, A. D. (2017) Introduction to educational and psychological measurement: Using R. UNL Digital Commons, Available from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/edpsychpapers/251/

Book Chapters

1. Albano, A. D. (in press). Measurement. In S. M. Brookhart (Ed.), The Routledge Encyclopedia of Education.
2. Daly, E. J., III, Holtz, J., Young, N. D., Albano, A. D., & Sommerhalder, M. (in press). Using self-report in psychological assessments of sexually violent predator evaluations. In D. S. Bromberg & W. T. O’Donohue (Eds.), Sexually violent predators: A clinical science handbook. New York, NY: Springer.
3. Cai, L., & Albano, A. D.(2018). Examining sources of gender DIF using cross-classification multilevel IRT models. In M. T. Tatto, M. C. Rodriguez, W. M. Smith, M. Reckase, & K. Bankov (Eds.), Exploring the mathematics education of teachers using TEDS-M data. New York, NY: Springer.
4. Kutaka, T. S., Smith, W. M., & Albano, A. D. (2018). Differences in beliefs and knowledge for teaching mathematics: An international study of future teachers. In M. T. Tatto, M. C. Rodriguez, W. M. Smith, M. Reckase, & K. Bankov (Eds.), Exploring the mathematics education of teachers using TEDS-M data. New York, NY: Springer.
5. Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2018). Item development: Research and practice. In S. N. Elliott, R. J. Kettler, P. A. Beddow, & A. Kurz (Eds.) Handbook of accessible instruction and testing practices: Issues, innovations, and applications. New York, NY: Springer.
6. Albano, A. D., Chin, T. & Geisinger, K. F. (2016). Item response theory. In D. S. Dunn (Ed.), Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Software & Research Tools

1. Albano, A. D. (2018). equate: Observed-score linking and equating [Computer software, R package version 2.0-7]. Available from http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=equate
2. Albano, A. D.(2017). Proola: A web application for collaborative assessment development. Available from http://proola.org/

Reports & Manuals

1. Albano, A. D. (2013). Ghana NEA Equating Report. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International.
2. Wyse, A. E., & Albano, A. D.(2012). Reading, Mathematics, and Writing: Michigan’s Alternate Assessment Program Based on Modified Achievement Standards Technical Report. Lansing, MI: Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability, Michigan Department of Education.
3. Rodriguez, M. C., Albano, A. D., & Haladyna, T. M. (2011). Item writing for test developers, researchers, and teachers. Examinations Research (in Chinese), 27, 85-94.
4. Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2008). MI-Access Functional Independence Science: Michigan’s Alternate Assessment Program Technical Manual. Lansing, MI: Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability, Michigan Department of Education.
5. Rodriguez, M. C., Maeda, Y., Albano, A. D., & Jung, T. (2008). Investigating out-of-school time experiences: Background, attitudes, values, and beliefs. Minneapolis, MN: Applied Research Collaborative on Youth Development, Extension Service, University of Minnesota.

Presentations

Conference Papers

1. Rosenthal, J. L., Tancredi, D. J., Perez, S. L., Albano, A. D., Young, H. M., & Romano, P. S. (April, 2022). Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Family Caregiver-Reported Survey to Assess Family-Centered Care in the Emergency Department. Poster presented at the meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, Denver, CO.
2. Albano, A. D. (2022, April). Social Responsibility in College Admissions Requires a Reimagining of Standardized Testing. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, CA.
3. Hojnoski, R., Wackerle-Hollman, A., Albano, A. D., & Missall, K. (2022, February). Applying a Social Justice Framework in Early Childhood Measurement Development. Paper presented at the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention, San Diego, CA.
4. Missall, K., Hojnoski, R., Albano, A. D., & Purpura, D. (2022, February). Developing LLAMA (links to learning via adaptive math assessment): Year 1 of research and development. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA.
5. Missall, K., Hojnoski, R., Albano, A. D., & Purpura, D. (2022, February). Developing LLAMA (Links to Learning via Adaptive Math Assessment): Year 1 of Research and Development. Poster presented at the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention, San Diego, CA.
6. Lease, E., Wackerle-Hollman, A., Elmquist, M., Will, K., Albano, A., & McConnell, S.(2021, September). Early Literacy and Language Performance Trends for 3-Year-Old Preschoolers. Paper presented at the meeting of the Division for Early Childhood, New Orleans, LA.
7. Elmquist, M., Will, K., Albano, A. D., Lease, E., McConnell, S., & Wackerle-Hollman, A. (2021, April). Assessing Early Literacy Growth and Development in Three-Year-Olds Using Individual Growth and Development Indicators. Poster presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.
8. Missall, K., Hojnoski, R., Purpura, D., & Albano, A. D. (2021, February). Adding to IGDIs: Developing an Early Math Measure for Preschool. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, virtual.
9. Will, K., Elmquist, M., Albano, A. D., Wackerle-Hollman, A., Lease, E., & McConnell, S.(2021, January). Scaling Oral Language Measures to Evaluate 3-Year-Olds’ Developing Skills. Poster presented at the meeting of the Division for Early Childhood, Minneapolis, MN.
10. Albano, A. D., & Verhagen, J. (2020, September). Recovering from suboptimal precalibration in a low-stakes, computerized-adaptive, diagnostic assessment system. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Francisco, CA.
11. Will, K., Elmquist, M., Lease, E., Wackerle-Hollman, A., Albano, A. D., & McConnell, S.(2019, June). Starting early to go far: Language and early literacy assessment for three-year-olds. Poster presented at the meeting of the International Society on Early Intervention, Sydney, Australia.
12. McConnell, S., Lease, E., Will, K., Elmquist, M., Albano, A. D., & Beck, M. (2019, February). Growing down: Early literacy general outcome measures for 3-year-olds. Paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA.
13. Albano, A. D., & Cai, L. (2018, April). Modeling item position and context effects in formative CAT. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New York, NY.
14. Miller, A. & Albano, A. D. (2017, October). Content Camp: Ohio State’s collaborative, open test bank pilot. Paper presented at OpenEd17: The 14th Annual Open Education Conference, Anaheim, CA.
15. Albano, A. D. (2017, April). The role of assessment literacy in classroom assessment design and implementation. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Antonio, TX.
16. Cai, L., & Albano, A. D. (2017, April). Comparing non-equivalent groups linking methods with an anchor test and covariates. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Antonio, TX.
17. Kim, M. S., Kang, C., & Albano, A. D. (2017, April). A method for identifying linear item position effects on 3PL IRT item parameters. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, San Antonio, TX.
18. Peteranetz, M. & Albano, A. D. (2016, August). Confronting the challenges of measuring metacognition. Paper presented in the Proceedings of the 7th Biennial Meeting of the EARLI Special Interest Group 16 Metacognition, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
19. Cai, L., & Albano, A. D.(2016, April). Examining sources of gender DIF using cross-classified IRT models. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Washington, DC.
20. Albano, A. D., Kutaka, T. S., Smith, W. M., & Kang, C. (2015, April). Exploring mathematical pedagogical content knowledge: An international study of future teachers. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
21. Kutaka, T. S., Smith, W. M., Albano, A. D., & Kang, C. (2015, April). Differences in beliefs and knowledge for teaching mathematics: An international study of future teachers. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
22. Smith, W., & Albano, A. D.(2015, April). Selection strategies for loglinear smoothing models in a NEAT design. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Chicago, IL.
23. Kang, C., & Albano, A. D. (2015, April). Linear and nonlinear modeling of item position effects. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Chicago, IL.
24. Albano, A. D. (2014, April). Implementing and evaluating equating with small-scale assessments. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Philadelphia, PA.
25. Kutaka, T. S., Ren, L., Fleharty, H. L., Smith, W. M., Edwards, C. P., Green, J. L., & Albano, A. D. (2014, April). Longitudinal change in students? math achievement scores for an elementary mathematics specialist program. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
26. Miller, B. G., Cox, C. J., Hougham, R. J., Walden, V. P., Eitel, K. B., & Albano, A. D.(2013). Adventure Learning @ Greenland. Paper presented at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
27. Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2012, April). Multilevel modeling of item parameter drift. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Vancouver, Canada.
28. Palma, J., Rodriguez, M. C., Cabrera, J. C., Albano, A. D., Vue, Y., & Warshawski, A. J. (2012, April). Effects of positive assets and socio-economic status on academic performance. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.
29. Albano, A. D., Rodriguez, M. C., McConnell, S. R., Bradfield, T. & Wackerle-Hollman, A. (2011, April). Scaling individual growth and development indicators: Early literacy measurement. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New Orleans, LA.
30. Rodriguez, M. C., Albano, A. D., McConnell, S. R., Wackerle-Hollman, A. & Bradfield, T. (2011, April). Standard setting with innovative measures of early literacy: Contrasting groups. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New Orleans, LA.
31. Wackerle-Hollman, A., Bradfield, T., McConnell, S., Albano, A. D., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2011, April). Task development and item analysis in innovative measures of early literacy. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New Orleans, LA.
32. Bradfield, T., Wackerle-Hollman, A., McConnell, S., Rodriguez, M. C. & Albano, A. D. (2011, April). Construct identification to support early literacy measurement. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New Orleans, LA.
33. Babcock, B., & Albano, A. D. (2011, April). Rasch scale drift over time: Examining when to reset the scale. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New Orleans, LA.
34. Albano, A. D., Moses, T. P., & Liu, J. (2010, April). The impact of smoothing on equating with structured data irregularities. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, Denver, CO.
35. Albano, A. D.(2009, April). Efficient common-item equating: Considering spread of item difficulty. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.