Description
signedDistance = second label index-first label index; absoluteDistance is its magnitude.
Numeric score transformations can reverse a scale, map anchors or change its mean and standard deviation. Such arithmetic does not establish equal category spacing, comparable constructs or statistical equating between assessments.
signedDistance = second label index-first label index; absoluteDistance is its magnitude.
When to use this tool
Use Rubric Level Distance when checking an explicit scale or anchor transformation.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter firstLabel, secondLabel, orderedLevels. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedDistance, absoluteDistance. Use the output convention below.
Require unique orderedLevels and both labels present. signedDistance = second label index-first label index; absoluteDistance is its magnitude.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| firstLabel | First Label | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| secondLabel | Second Label | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| orderedLevels | Ordered Levels | Required. Array of text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192; maximum items 256. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedDistance | Signed Distance | Required. Safe integer. |
| absoluteDistance | Absolute Distance | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"firstLabel": "developing",
"secondLabel": "advanced",
"orderedLevels": [
"beginning",
"developing",
"proficient",
"advanced"
]
},
"output": {
"signedDistance": 2,
"absoluteDistance": 2
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- This counts ordinal steps in the supplied order, not equal educational intervals or a validated difference in achievement.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use appropriate measurement validation or equating methods before treating transformed scales as interchangeable.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Rubric Level Linear Anchor Map
score = lowScore+(level-lowLevel)*(highScore-lowScore)/(highLevel-lowLevel).
- Achievement Score Scale Mean Shift
z = (rawScore-sourceMean)/sourceSd; scaledScore = targetMean+z*targetSd.