Assessing the Falsifiability of Extreme Linking

Extreme linkings are performed in settings in which neither equivalent groups nor anchor material is available to link scores on two assessments. Examples of extreme linkages include links between scores on tests administered in different languages or between scores on tests administered across disability groups. The strength of interpretation attached to a linkage depends on the proper design and execution of a sound data collection plan. The current paper uses a real data set to illustrate how to indirectly assess the quality of linking the scores on two assessments that contain neither equivalent groups nor common anchor material.