Group Performance Map

The Group Performance Map plots a point representing the average ability estimate for each Item Set, showing progress for all cases (or groups of cases) over time.

1. Select Performance Map from the menu.
2. You will be presented with a dialog window, similar to that shown in Figure 1, of the display options described in the associated Table 1. The settings shown in Figure 1 will produce the map shown in Figure 2.

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Figure 1. Display options windows for Group Performance maps.

Table 1. Display options for Group Performance Maps.

Option	Description
Title	The title you provide will appear at the top of the output window.
Displayed Range	Change the displayed range to display only part of the full range of ability estimates (in this case, the y-axis on the report).
Performance Axis Label	Enter the label for the axis showing proficiency estimates.
Display Scores	Select Yes to display the scores along the proficiency axis (Scores are set in the Report Options dialog window).
Show Estimate Type	Select Yes for the estimate type to appear in the heading.
Plot Group Progress	Enter Yes to see average proficiencies for the selected group of cases.
Plot Expected Progress	If expected proficiency levels have been entered for each Item Set, and you wish to see those expected locations, select Yes.
X-axis location	The x-axis labels can be located at the top or the bottom of the chart.
Background Color	Use the Change Color button to change the background color for the map.
Cut-point Color	Use the Change Color button to change the color for criterion zone bands on your map.
Line Color	Use the Change Color button to change the color of the plot line on your map.

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Figure 2. Group Performance Map for the SEPUP project.

Figure 2 shows how the display options affect the appearance of a Performance Map. One point is plotted for each top tier Item Set (i.e., a chapter or unit of the curricula). Note that a map is produced for each dimension of proficiency that was measured. Maps for each dimension are accessible by clicking the tabs containing variable names at the top of the graph.

The horizontal shaded areas represent the user-specified criterion zones, or cut-point ranges, which parallel the rows displayed on the Profile map. In this example, students generally performed a little better in the "1-12" module than they did in the "13-20" module, and stayed at about the same level in module "21-28." After that, students improved at the next module, but then began declining, on average. Teachers can use this information to detect changes in student progress. Further analyses should be undertaken, since these points are averages and may be affected by extreme cases. Frequency Maps or Ability Estimates by Level reports can be examined for each Item Set for additional information.

3. Resize or change the shape of the map by dragging the corners of the map window, or the window edges. Some actions will crop the window, but dragging back will restore the window contents.
4. To print the map, select File – Print Selected Chart. This will print the map for the currently displayed variable. Use the tabs at the top of the map to select another variable, and then select File – Print Selected Chart again to print that map. This will print a full-size map. To control the size of the printed map, you may prefer to save it as a JPG or PNG file and then import it into a Word document (see the next step). You can then modify the size directly.
5. To save the map, select File – Save as JPG or Save as PNG. This will automatically save a graphical file for each variable. For example, entering a filename of "perfmap" generates the files perfmap_DCI.png and perfmap_ET.png.
6. Close the map window with the OK button at the bottom of the window.