The Human Resources Glossary.

The Human Resources Glossary. A AA 1. Affirmative action. 2. Alcoholics Anonymous. 3. Associate of Arts. AAA 1. American Arbitration Association. 2.Area Agencies on Aging. 3. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (screening). AAAA Army Aviation Association of America. AAACE American Association for Adult and Continuing Education. AADB American Association of the Deaf-Blind. AAF American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. AAFES Army Air Force Exchange Service. AAFM The American Academy of Financial Management. AAHE The American Association for Higher Education. AAIM Association for Applied Interactive Multimedia. AAMR American Association on Mental Retardation. AAOHN American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. AAP 1. Affirmative action plan. 2. The American Academy of Psychoanalysis. AAPCC Adjusted average per capita cost. AARP American Association of Retired Persons. AAUP American Association of University Professors. A.B. Bachelor of Arts. ABA 1. American Bar Association. 2. Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. 3. The Association for Behavior Analysis. ABCB Architectural Barriers Compliance Board. ABCD Accomplishment-based curriculum development. ABET Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. ABM Applied behavior management. ABMS American Board of Medical Specialties. ABO Accumulated benefits obligations. ABR Accelerated benefit rider. ABS Asset-based securitization. ACA 1. American Compensation Association. 2. American Counseling Association. 3. American Chiropractic Association. 4. American Creativity Association. ACAA Air Carrier Access Act of 1986. ACB American Council of the Blind. ACC Asynchronous computer conferencing. ACCEDI Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors–International. ACDUTRA Active duty for training. ACE 1. American Council on Education. 2. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. ACHE Association for Continuing Higher Education, Inc. ACIP American Council on International Personnel. ACL Access control list. ACME ACME World Association of Management Consulting Firms. ACPA American Cleft PalateCraniofacial Association. ACR Adjusted community rate. ACS American Cancer Society. ACT American College Test. ACTE Association of Corporate Travel Executives. ACUR Ambulatory care utilization review. ADA 4 A.M. ADA 1. Age Discrimination Act of 1975. 2. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 3. American Dental Association. 4. American Diabetes Association. ADAA Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. ADARA American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. ADBs Accelerated death benefits. AD&D Accidental death and dismemberment insurance. ADD 1. Attention deficit disorder. 2. Agreed delivery date. ADEA Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. ADHD Attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder. ADL Advanced distributed learning. ADLs Activities of daily living. Adm. Admiral O10 (Navy civilian abbreviation). ADM Admiral O10 (Navy military abbreviation). ADME Association of Destination Management Executives. ADR Alternative dispute resolution procedures. ADSL Asymmetrical digital subscriber line. AECT Association for Educational Communications and Technology. AED Automated external defibrillator. AEDP Adult External Diploma Program. AEE Association for Experiential Education. AERA American Educational Research Association. AES Advanced Encryption Standard. AESC The Association of Executive Search Consultants. AFA Air Force Association. AFB American Foundation for the Blind. AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children. AFG Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. AFGE American Federation of Government Employees. AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor — Congress of Industrial Relations. AFPA Armed Forces Procurement Act of 1947. AFPI Air Force Procurement Instructions. AFSA Air Force Sergeants Association. AFSCME American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AFT American Federation of Teachers AFWOA Air Force Women Officers Association. AGBAD Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf. AGI Adjusted gross income. AHA 1. American Heart Association. 2. American Hospital Association. AHH Acute health hazard. AHLA American Hotel & Lodging Association. AHP Association health plan. AI 1. Artificial intelligence. 2. Appreciative inquiry. AIA Anti-Injunction Act of 1932. AIAS Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. AICPA American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. AIDA Attention, interest, desire, and action. AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AILS Artificial intelligence learning systems. AIMR Association for Investment Management and Research. AIT Advanced individual training. AITP Association of Information Technology Professionals. AJB America’s Job Bank. AL The American Legion. ALD Assistive listening device. ALN Asynchronous learning network ALOS Average length of stay. A.M. Master of Arts. AMA 5 AV AMA 1. American Management Association. 2. American Marketing Association. 3. American Medical Association. AMD Age-related macular degeneration. AMEX American Stock Exchange. AMP Association of Meeting Professionals. AMPS Advanced mobile phone service. AMSUS Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. AMVETS American Veterans. ANA American Nurses Association. ANCC American Nurses Credentialing Center. ANSI American National Standards Institute. AOCFI The Association of Outplacement Consulting Firms International. AP American Plan. APA American Psychological Association. APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. APEX Advance purchase excursion fare. APFT Army Physical Fitness Test. APH American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. API Application programming interface. APQC American Productivity and Quality Center. APP Army Procurement Procedure. APR 1. Average payment rate. 2. Annual percentage rate. APS Advanced photo system. APTA American Physical Therapy Association. APY Annual percentage yield. AQL Acceptable quality level. AQP Association for Quality & Participation. ARC AIDS-related complex. ARCD Age-related cognitive decline. ARIA Arthritis Research Institute of America. ARL Action-reflection learning. ART Assisted reproductive technology. A.S. Associate of Science. ASA 1. American Stroke Association. 2. Autism Society of America. ASAE American Society of Association Executives. ASAP As soon as possible. ASCAP American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations. ASHA American Speech-LanguageHearing Association. ASHC American Self-Help Clearinghouse. ASHHRA American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. ASIS American Society for Industrial Security. ASL American sign language. ASO Administrative services only. ASP Application service provider. ASPA American Society of Pension Actuaries. ASPR Armed Services Procurement Regulations. ASQ American Society for Quality. ASTA American Society of Travel Agents. ASTD American Society for Training and Development. ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. AT Assertiveness training. ATB 1. Automated ticket/boarding pass. 2. America’s Talent Bank. ATEA American Technical Education Association. ATM 1. Automated teller machine. 2. Adobe Type Manager. 3. Asynchronous transfer mode. ATP Authorization to participate. ATS Applicant tracking system. ATSA Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001. AUSA Association of the U.S. Army. AV Audiovisuals. AVA 6 abstract reasoning AVA 1. American Vocational Association. 2. Activity value analysis. AVRS Automated voice response system. AWHP Association for Worksite Health Promotion. AWLP Alliance of Work/Life Professionals. AWOL Absent without leave. AWP Any willing provider. Abacus An Asian airline computer reservation system (CRS) consortium formed by Cathay Pacific, China, Malaysian, Philippine, Singapore, and Royal Brunei Airlines. abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening A procedure that visualizes the existence of an enlargement in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery. An acoustic gel is applied to the abdomen and a painless instrument called a transducer is used to visualize the aorta. ability test In training and development, test instruments used to measure an individual’s physical or mental skills or abilities, such as manual dexterity, reasoning, visual acuity, or problem solving. Examples are Revised Beta Examination, 2nd Ed. (Beta-II), Industrial Reading Test, Minnesota Clerical Assessment Battery, Seashore-Bennett Stenographic Proficiency Test, Personnel Tests for Industry (Verbal and Numerical), and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. ability to benefit The likelihood that an individual will complete a program of occupational or remedial training in a successful manner. The ability to benefit may be measured by aptitude, ability, or achievement tests. ability to pay In compensation and contract negotiations, the capability of an organization to fulfill a wage and salary increase while remaining profitable and competitive in its industry. ABLEDATA An information and referral project operated by Macro International, Inc., the company that operates the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Provides free information from a database listing of more than 20,000 assistive devices for all types of disabilities. Contact: ABLEDATA, 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 930, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 800-227- 0216 or ; fax ; e-mail ; Web site AboutFace USA An information and support organization dedicated to providing individual and family support to people who have facial differences. Offers information, practical advice, and the opportunity to network with others who share similar concerns and experiences. Contact: AboutFace USA, P.O. Box 969, Batavia, IL (phone 888-486- 1209; e-mail AboutFace2000 @; Web site absence management metrics A means of comparing absentee problems across companies. According to Richard Lewis, senior partner of LewisCo and a member of the Washington Business Group on Health’s council on employee health and productivity and drafter of the council’s original absence measurement recommendations, the metrics fall under seven categories: cost per employee, average cost per claim, costs as a percentage of payroll, lost days per 100 employees, average claim duration, claim incidence (frequency), and claim management metrics and performance standards. absent without leave (AWOL) Unauthorized absence from one’s workplace. Usually punished by docking pay. absolute ratings Rating systems that require the rater to assign a finite value (on a fixed scale) to the trait or performance being rated without reference to any other person. See also behaviorally anchored rating scale; checklist; descriptive scale; forced-choice scale; graphic scale; numerical rating. absorption costing The oldest method of cost accounting in which all costs are absorbed into a unit of production or charged against a single product or operation within the business. abstract reasoning In education and training, the ability to perceive problems and issues in symbolic terms and to solve problems and resolve issues in a theoretical rather than in an applied or verifiable manner. abuse/suppression program 7 accessorial services abuse/suppression program An employee benefit, such as a company-sponsored program addressing weight control, smoking cessation, chemical and substance abuse, or gambling addiction control. academic year As defined by the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Financial Assistance Programs, a period of at least 30 weeks of instructional time during which a full-time student is expected to complete at least 24 semester or trimester hours, at least 36 quarter hours, or, at an institution that measures program length in clock hours, at least 900 clock hours. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) A not-for-profit organization that provides a voice for individuals comprising the worldwide interactive community. Its mission is to promote and advance the common interests of the worldwide interactive community and to recognize outstanding achievement in interactive content. Contact: AIAS, 9343 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (phone ; fax ; e-mail ; Web site ). accelerated benefit rider (ABR) See living benefit rider. accelerated death benefits (ADBs) Payment of insurance death benefits before death. The amount varies from 100% of the face coverage of the policy to a small percentage of the death benefit with a possible monetary cap. When the advance payment is less than the face value, the balance is paid to the beneficiary on the death of the insured. accelerated learning 1. Learning designed to be effective and achievable in a short span of time by making the learning environment positive, interesting, supportive, comfortable, nonthreatening, multidimensional, and successful. Also called speed learning. 2. A multisensory, brain-congruent, collaborative learning methodology in which the learners are the focal point of the learning experience. It involves both the packaging of the knowledge and skills to be learned and the preparation of the learners so that they can absorb and retain the material faster and more easily. 3. Typically uses one-on-one training, coaching, mentoring, small group instruction, personal training, or personal professional development strategies. accent-reduction training A new benefit offered by a growing number of companies to help employees with heavy foreign accents or strong regional American dialects to improve their pronunciation and enunciation of the English language. Courses typically last as long as 20 weeks. acceptability The level of satisfaction expressed by consumers with the availability, accessibility, cost, quality, continuity, and degree of courtesy and consideration afforded them by the health care system. acceptable quality level (AQL) A method of specifying quality level used by engineers. Largely replaced by Cpk. acceptance In contract law, consenting to an offer under terms agreed to by the offeror, which creates a binding contract. access In benefits, an individual’s ability to obtain needed health care services. access code An alphanumeric code that allows the user to gain entry to a computer system, program, folder, or file. access control Procedures performed by hardware, software, and personnel to monitor access to facilities, equipment, computers, or containers; identifies users requesting access; records attempts at access; and grants or denies access. access control list (ACL) A means of controlling access to computer files. ACLs can be created on a router or on a server to deny entry to persons who must not be privy to files. accessible format Materials prepared for people with disabilities in formats other than ordinary print (e.g., Braille for the blind and extralarge print for the visually impaired). access management software Identity management tools that allow cleared individuals access to an enterprise network or e-business site while managing the content and the business they conduct online. An effective system incorporates one or more methods of authentication to certify the user, including passwords, digital certificates, or hardware or software devices. accessorial services In employee relocation, moving services other than the actual transportation of household goods, such as accessory apartment 8 accounts-receivable days packing, custom-crating, elevator usage, stair carries, and servicing home appliances. accessory apartment An alternative way of enabling older persons to remain in their own homes. It involves adding a separate, self-contained apartment unit to the house. Rental of the original dwelling provides the owner with additional financial resources and the security of living apart but not alone. access-to-care A means of cutting abuse in medigap insurance. The measure requires all individuals to have health insurance provided through either their employers or a public plan. accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) In benefits, group insurance that provides coverage for accidental loss of life, limbs, or sight. accidental injury An injury caused by an external force or element such as a blow or fall that requires immediate medical attention. Usually includes animal bites and poisonings. accomplishment-based curriculum development (ABCD) A step-by-step system for developing a curriculum from analysis through the design, development, delivery, and evaluation phases. It differs from instructional systems development in that it looks first at the goals of the organization, then at what exemplary employees produce, and finally at how top performers behave when they produce their results. Attributed to Joe Hurless, a member of the Human Resources Development (HRD) Hall of Fame. accordion management The ability of a company to expand or contract its work force quickly to accommodate changing business conditions. accountability 1. Responsibility imposed on a group or individual or assumed by a work team or individual for the effectiveness or success of a program, activity, or project in terms of results achieved, such as new or improved skills, productivity, cost benefits, or employee motivation. 2. An implied or explicit requirement to accept responsibility for performance, progress, and accomplishment. accountability statement See job description. account balance pension (ABP) Benefit plan similar to a defined contribution plan. Benefits are accumulated in an account to which contributions (based on a percentage of pay) are allocated and fund earnings are credited to the account under a plan formula. Fully vested participants may receive the account balance in a lump sum upon termination of employment; upon retirement, participants may take the accumulated balance as a lump sum or in the form of an annuity. accounting A financial control that involves the processes of collecting, recording, classifying, and summarizing transactions, events, and activities that are, at least in part, dollaroriented, analyzing and interpreting the data, and reporting the results to interested managers or others. Accounting Industry Reform Act of 2002 The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the president on July 30, 2002. The legislation (1) creates criminal penalties and prison terms for company executives who sign fraudulent financial reports and for document shredding; (2) establishes an independent, private-sector board to oversee the accounting industry; (3) imposes restrictions on accounting firms providing consulting services for corporations whose books they audit; (4) mandates audit partner rotation and establishes a one-year employment restriction on accountants; (5) prohibits corporate loans to company executives; (6) requires company officials to certify periodic reports, subject to civil and criminal penalties; (7) orders new rules for financial analysts designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (8) extends the time in which defrauded investors may bring lawsuits against companies; (9) creates a federal account for defrauded investors that will take in all civil fines, payments, and assets from corporate wrongdoers; (10) calls for the immediate disclosure of stock sales by company executives; and (11) increases the Securities and Exchange Commission budget for auditors and investigators. account representative See director of sales. accounts-payable days In calculating the cash conversion cycle, the payables balance, divided by the last 12 months’ cost of goods sold, multiplied by 365. accounts-receivable days In calculating the cash conversion cycle, the receivables balance, accounts receivable supervisor 9 acquired citizenship divided by the last 12 months’ sales, multiplied by 365. accounts receivable supervisor The hotel functionary responsible for presenting the final bill and for explaining charges to the person responsible for a meeting. accreditation Certification by a recognized body that individuals, institutions, or programs have voluntarily undergone comprehensive examination by objective, impartial, and qualified evaluators and have demonstrated that they competently perform the functions that they claim. Accreditation standards are usually defined in terms of physical plant, governing body, administration, and medical and other staff. Federal student aid programs require that participating schools and colleges be accredited. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) Established to serve the public through the promotion, advancement, and accreditation of engineering, technology, and applied science programs and to promote quality and innovation in engineering, technology, and applied science education. Contact: ABET, 111 Market Pl., Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202 (phone 410-347- 7700; fax ; Web site accretive merger A merger that immediately increases the acquiring company’s earnings per share. See also dilutive merger. accrued benefit The funds or other form of benefit that a plan participant has accumulated to a particular point in time. For example, for a defined contribution plan, it is the amount of money accumulated in the individual’s pension account. accrued interest The amount of interest that accumulates on the unpaid principal balance of a loan. acculturation In multinational operations, the adoption by expatriate managers of the cultural traits, mores, practices, and social patterns of the host country. accumulated benefits obligations (ABO) The amount needed to finance pension benefits already earned by workers. achievement competencies Capabilities that portend success in professional, technical, and managerial jobs. They include initiative and concern for order and quality. See also cognitive competencies; helping/service competencies; influence competencies; management competencies; personal effectiveness competencies. achievement-motivation theory A theory that holds that challenging tasks and their successful completion elicit feelings of pleasure; therefore, the solution to motivation is to hire people with a high need to achieve, give them challenging tasks, and provide unambiguous feedback on degree of success. achievement need A strong need of most knowledge workers, characterized by a willingness to take moderate risks to attain the satisfaction that accompanies task completion and positive feedback, particularly with difficult or challenging tasks. achievement test A test that measures the extent to which a person has acquired certain information or skills as a result of formal or informal training, experience, or self-study. The most common type of test used by HR managers, it measures the knowledge, skills, and abilities of people in specific subject-matter areas. Most often used to determine whether a trainee has achieved the learning objectives of a course or training module or to determine the general effects of previous learning experiences, but also used in screening and selection to test job knowledge. acid reducers Over-the-counter drugs that prevent or relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. acid test A metric of the results of corporate operations that measures immediate solvency or financial soundness. The acid test is calculated by dividing cash plus marketable securities plus receivables by current liabilities [acid test = (cash + marketable securities + receivables)/current liabilities]. acknowledgment card A postcard or letter sent to the moving customer by most van lines soon after the customer sends a damage claim form to the mover. The card acknowledges that the damage claim has been received and is being processed by the customer service department. acquired citizenship Citizenship conferred at birth on children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent. acquired immune deficiency syndrome 10 actives acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) A viral illness, until recently assumed to be terminal, that attacks the body’s immune system, leaving it vulnerable to infection. In 1996, combination drug treatments became available that changed the prospects for people with HIV disease, making it a treatable and largely survivable infection. The disease cannot be transmitted by casual contact, but only by the exchange of body fluids such as through sexual contacts, needles, cuts in the skin, and transfusions of infected blood. acquisition See merger. acquisitions software A computer program written to perform management tasks associated with the purchase of information systems reference materials. action learning 1. Usually facilitated by a consultant, it is a systematic and orderly problem-solving process. A group of trainees jointly identifies a problem, experiments with a solution, monitors results, and critiques the process. Results are used by the learners to redefine the problem and try out alternative solutions. 2. A middle management training strategy that involves giving trainees released time to work full-time on problems in departments other than their own. Trainees meet periodically with a project group to discuss their progress and solutions. 3. A learning system in which (1) learning is tied to a specific, important, and current project; (2) there is no instructor and trainees learn from and with each other in teams (often cross-functional) as they deal with an issue or problem; (3) emphasis is placed on questioning previous assumptions; and (4) teams continually review their progress and the process itself and question and test their hypotheses. action or performance learning A learning strategy used by humans (and to some degree by learning machines). It is learning by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling, and doing. action plan Applies to any organization or area of concern following evaluation, such as self-assessment. An action plan is essentially a detailed (sequenced and prioritized) solution for a problem: what is to be done, who is to do it, when it is to be started, when it is to be finished, what resources will be required, and to some degree how it is to be done. In some applications, time and the costs are included in the plan. action-reflection learning (ARL) A smallgroup, team approach to learning in which the learners learn by by solving actual business problems. action research 1. The scientific application of the methods of behavioral science to the solution of practical problems. Involves the processes of diagnosis, data collection and analysis, feedback, and action planning. Attributed to Kurt Lewin. See also action plan. 2. In organization development, action research involves identifying and selecting the organizational and interpersonal issues and problems that need to be addressed and finding and applying solutions to those problems in a planned and systematic way. action skills Skills that are associated with doing or taking action in situations as they are analyzed. They include such specific skills as planning, changing organizational conditions, and behaving effectively in interpersonal situations. active duty The status of personnel of any component of the Armed Forces assigned to units either indefinitely, for a specified enlistment period, or for some other contractual time commitment. active duty for training (ACDUTRA) A period of training required of most members of Reserve Component Forces of the military services. A certain number of “drills” is required annually to fulfill a reservist’s military commitment — typically one 2-hour period per week or four 4-hour periods per month (1 weekend) plus 14 days of annual active duty. active listening In counseling or other personto-person contacts, concentrating on the other person and the message, not on oneself; giving the other individual total, undivided attention; looking at the person directly but not staring; listening for the central idea, listening for feelings as well as facts, separating facts from opinions, listening ahead, listening between the lines, and responding appropriately. actives Current workers; preretirement employees. activities 11 adaptive testing activities A type of knowledge object, these are actions performed by the learner on some entity. Attributed to Utah State professor M. David Merrill. activities of daily living (ADLs) The basis for determining need for long-term care services. Include continence (control of bowel and bladder functions), dressing, feeding (taking nourishment), toileting, and transferring (getting in and out of a chair or bed). activity ratio One of the traditional tests of operating performance, activity ratio emphasizes flow rather than financial position. It is calculated by dividing assets into sales individually or in groups, and the result can be expressed as a percentage of sales or a ratio of sales. activity value analysis (AVA) A cost management strategy that involves quantifying the amount of time and personnel required to accomplish a task and includes that number as a part of the total cost of that activity. actual charge The amount a physician or supplier actually bills a patient for a particular medical service or supply. The actual charge may differ from customary, prevailing, or reasonable charges (e.g., under Medicare). actual cost projections In project management, a means of determining project costs. The projections are based on prior knowledge of costs involved in a similar project and include various raw material vendor price quotes. actual to date In project management, the amount of resources (people, time, materials, or funds) expended on a project from its inception to the most recent reporting date. actuarially sound In benefits, pension funds that are adequate to meet accrued and accruing liabilities, considering the amount accumulated in the fund, current levels of contribution, and assumptions made about interest or return on investment. actuarial reduction A reduction in the amount of earned pension income payable at age 65 applied when a member of a retirement plan retires prior to age 65 and begins to receive pension benefits. It compensates for the longer period of time that such employees will receive benefits compared to those who retire at age 65 or older. actuating See directing. acupressure An alternative Eastern form of medical treatment that involves light finger, thumb, and hand pressure and massage based on the theory that energy flows along 12 major nerve paths through the body. Illness or stress is believed to cause blockages in energy flow that can be relieved through massage. acupuncture An alternative form of manipulative medicine developed by the Chinese to relieve pain. Practitioners insert very thin needles into the body and just under the skin at specific locations to treat various kinds of pain and addictions. Practitioners believe that it restores or improves the flow of chi, or vital life energy, along the 12 major energy pathways, each linked to specific organ systems. acute care Medical treatment of individuals whose illness or health problems are episodic. Acute care facilities are hospitals that mainly serve persons with short-term health problems. acute disease A disease that is characterized by a single episode of a relatively short duration from which the patient returns to his or her normal or previous level of activity. acute health hazard (AHH) A substance that has a rapid and adverse effect on the body characterized by severe symptoms. ADA Guidelines for Tests See Enforcement Guidance on Preemployment DisabilityRelated Inquiries and Medical Examinations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act. adaptive learning Learning whose purpose is to adapt to what is perceived or known: what is occurring now. For example, a company uses adaptive learning when it employs customer feedback to improve its technical services. Also called adjustment learning. adaptive media For visually disabled persons, adaptive media include large-type software and learningware, speech synthesis or talking software, tactile displays, and Braille printers. adaptive test A usually computer-based test in which the choice of test items depends on the testee’s responses to earlier items on the same test. adaptive testing A testing model where an individual testee’s cumulative pattern of responses is iteratively assessed and scored.