Which statement contrasts normative data with criterion-referenced standards?

• A. Normative data compare against a peer distribution; criterion-referenced standards use fixed performance criteria.
• B. Normative data use fixed criteria; criterion-referenced use peer distribution.
• C. Both rely on fixed thresholds.
• D. Normative data rely on percentile ranks.

Answer: (A)

Think about what each approach measures. Normative data judge your performance by comparing you to a group and placing you in the peer distribution (often via percentiles or ranks). Criterion-referenced standards define mastery with fixed criteria or cutoffs you must meet, regardless of how others perform. The statement that aligns with this distinction says normative data compare against a peer distribution, while criterion-referenced standards use fixed performance criteria. The other options mix these ideas—normative data aren’t based on fixed criteria, and criterion-referenced systems aren’t about peer distributions—and percentile ranks are a hallmark of normative data, not the criterion-based approach.