Manual Scoring Resources

Manual scoring is an option when API-powered scoring and the HealthMeasures Scoring Service are not feasible. Unlike these preferred approaches to scoring, manual scoring uses a table that converts a raw summed score to a T-score. Follow the instructions on this page to manually score a HealthMeasure.

HealthMeasures are based on item response theory. This means that each item has statistical information available that can be used to calculate a score. The HealthMeasures Scoring Service and API-powered Scoring use a precise scoring methodology (“response pattern scoring”) that takes into account this information about each response option for every item. This can result in different T-scores by response pattern for the same summed score. For example, a response pattern of 1-2-3-2 and a response pattern of 3-1-2-2 both have a summed score of 8, but the responses to individual items are different. Response pattern scoring accounts for differences in symptom severity and functional status that are measured by different items. For example, selecting “almost always”, a raw response score of 4, to a question about running 10 miles would result in a higher score than selecting the same response to a question about walking one block since running 10 miles represents greater physical function than walking a block.

Compared to response pattern scoring, manual scoring uses simpler tables that convert a raw summed score to a T-score. The summed score approach uses weighted probabilities for each response pattern to calculate the most likely T-score associated with a raw summed score. The software-based scoring approaches do not need to make this estimation and calculate a separate T-score for each response pattern. As a result, there is less precision (more error) with manual scoring. This can make more of a difference for interpreting individual scores or score means for small groups than it does for interpreting score means for large groups.

• HealthMeasures are collected on paper and need to be scored immediately by the measure administrator.
• You have complete data.
• You have administered existing short forms (not custom forms or computer adaptive tests).
• You want to compare scores for large groups of respondents (more than 75 people).

If you are scoring a translated HealthMeasure:

• Identify the measure’s English-language measure name.
• Follow the instructions.