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Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) has been the leading theory in timing research, and has also influenced research into human timing. However, other timing theories exist, such as Learning to Time (LeT). The double bisection task was designed to test the SET and LeT theories in pigeons. The purpose of this experiment was to verify whether similar results emerge from a human adaptation of the double bisection task. The results indicated that humans perform the double bisection task in the same way as pigeons do. However, the assumptions inherent in LeT cannot be applied to humans. Two other explanations are also assessed here.

It has been suggested that low discriminating items can be included in a test with a criterion-referenced score interpretation as long as they measure a highly relevant content. However, low item discrimination increases the standard error of measurement, which might increase the expected proportion of misclassified test takers. In order to test it, responses from 2000 test takers to 100 items were simulated, varying item discrimination values and number and location of cut scores, and classification inaccuracy was estimated. Results show that the expected proportion of misclassified test takers increased as item discrimination decreased, and as the cut scores were closer to the mean of the distribution of test takers. Therefore, a test should include as few items with low discrimination values as possible —or even none— in order to reduce the expected proportion of test takers classified into a wrong performance level.