Thank you, Dr. S., I, too have done business research, and as you say the research has so many variables like question design, etc.  Often educational research doesn't ever include input from classroom teachers, a weakness of all educational research.

And, I agree, KS, that "testing" has gotten way out of hand!  I think giving control of education over to the federal gov't and using Common Core has been the biggest downfall of education I've ever seen.  We now have states getting rid of English and Math requirements to graduate; we have a very tainted view of American History being taught.  And, the minute they did away with cursive writing which I believe and there is research to support benefits students in learning math and science, was the epitome of reckless endangerment, imho.  There is way too much emphasis even in K education about "sexuality" and very little on actually learning to read and think for oneself!