Jaime Kavanaugh, MS.Ed.
Psychometrician
Jaime joined the ACS team in January of 2017. She has more than 20 years of experience conducting psychometric and test development activities related to licensure and certification. She also has extensive experience in assisting organizations meet the standards required to achieve and maintain accreditation. Jaime’s specific areas of expertise include data analysis, job task analysis studies, standard setting studies, and training subject matter experts to write high-quality examination items.
Jaime earned her B.S. degree in Psychology from Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas, and her MS.Ed. in Educational Psychology & Research from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Jaime the Institute for Credentialing Excellence Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) designation.
Before joining the ACS team, Jaime’s professional experience in the credentialing space included program management, test development, research, accreditation, and psychometrics.
Jaime’s research interests include alternative item types, survey development and distribution methods, approaches to standard setting, and the potential role of AI in the test development lifecycle. She strongly believes that sound measurement is the cornerstone of meaningful research and she is committed to contributing to the continued improvement and innovation of assessment tools and processes.
Jaime and her husband live in Lenexa, KS and together have 6 kids who keep them busy and entertained. Jaime was born and raised in Southern California and moved to the Midwest for college. She loves exploring outdoors (except during the Midwest winters), reading (primarily fiction), and experiencing all stages of life again through her kids (from early elementary to married with kids of their own). She considers herself a perpetual student who never wants to stop learning, growing, and improving.
Ms. Kavanaugh’s Selected Scholarly Research
Buckendahl, C. & Kavanaugh, J. (2018). Documenting Psychometric Evidence: A Goldilocks Conundrum [White paper]. ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV.
Kavanaugh, J., Gutberlet, T., & Davis-Becker, S. (2023). Warning: Graphic Content! Test developer discretion advised. Extending readability analyses to item exhibits. E-poster presented at the 2023 Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) Exchange, Colorado Springs, CO.
Kavanaugh, J. & Buckendahl, C. (2021). Beyond Entry-Level Physician Assistant Practice Analysis Report. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPT). ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV.
Kavanaugh, J. (2020). ACF Interrater Reliability Report. ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV Kavanaugh, J. (2020). Recommendations on Standard Setting Methods for Complex Constructed Response Assessments. ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV.
Kavanaugh, J. (2020). Technical Manual for the Certified Personal Trainer (NCCPT-CPT). The National Council for Certified Personal Trainers. Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC: Leawood, KS.
Kavanaugh, J. (2018). Irrigation Association Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist Job Analysis Report. ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV.
Kavanaugh, J. (2018). Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP): Certification Examination Standard Setting Report. ACS Ventures, LLC: Las Vegas, NV.