In assessment planning, the domain refers to which of the following?

• A. The sequence of test administration
• B. The scoring rubric used to evaluate responses
• C. The identified scope of expected learning to be assessed
• D. The population from which scores are drawn

Answer: (C)

In assessment planning, the domain defines the scope of what will be measured—the learning targets or content areas the test is meant to cover. It sets the boundaries for what students are expected to demonstrate and guides item development so that questions assess those specific areas. For example, in a program for severe-profound disabilities, domains might include functional communication, self-care, daily living skills, and social interaction. By designing items that align with these domains, the resulting scores reflect performance across the intended areas and support meaningful interpretation of outcomes. This alignment also supports content validity, showing the assessment truly measures the intended learning outcomes. The other aspects—how you sequence test administration, how responses are scored, and the population from which scores are drawn—are separate concerns: administration sequencing concerns logistics, the scoring rubric defines how responses are judged, and the population refers to who you collect data from to generalize results.