ASSOCIATION FOR MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION IN EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY (EPODDER) BYLAWS

SECTION 1

Association Name and Headquarters, Purpose, Fields of Activity and Methods, Founding Members

Association Name and Headquarters

Article 1. The name of the association is the Association FOR Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology. Its abbreviation is EPODDER. The association shall not open branches.

Article 2. The headquarters of the association is in Ankara. The address of the association is Necatibey neighborhood, Şan street No: 7/35 Ulus-ANKARA. The association may open representative offices domestically and abroad.

Purpose of the Association

Article 3. The purposes of the Association FOR Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology are:

  • To conduct scientific studies aimed at promoting and developing the field of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, ensuring its use for the benefit of society, and creating and/or developing social awareness on this matter;

  • To work towards having measurement and evaluation field specialists work in schools and institutions related to education and psychology;

  • To protect and safeguard the rights of those working in measurement and evaluation and psychometrics;

  • To report to relevant institutions and organizations about those who violate the rules and principles of the measurement and evaluation and psychometrics profession, and to initiate legal proceedings when necessary;

  • To examine whether the processes of preparation/adaptation, application, scoring, evaluation, and reporting of classroom measurement and evaluation activities and exams conducted for student and personnel selection purposes in schools comply with measurement and evaluation principles, and to conduct informative activities for relevant parties.

Fields of Activity and Methods of the Association

Article 4. The association engages in the following activities to achieve the purposes stated in Article 3 of the Bylaws.

  • Works to promote the field of measurement and evaluation as well as the profession of measurement, evaluation, and psychometrics.

  • Organizes conferences and open sessions to introduce new developments in measurement and evaluation to its members. Publishes the Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology; produces books and similar publications on various topics; organizes seminars and conferences.

  • Establishes relationships with professional, private, and official organizations for the implementation and execution of all kinds of legislation and curricula for the development of measurement and evaluation and psychometrics as a profession.

  • Works towards identifying and defining the working conditions, authorities, and responsibilities of those working in measurement and evaluation in the institutions they are affiliated with, and towards monitoring whether professionals comply with ethical rules.

  • Carries out efforts and initiatives for the professional organization of measurement and evaluation workers such as chambers and federations.

  • Organizes professional and scientific meetings, national and international congresses. Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology Congresses are an activity of the association.

  • Establishes committees composed of specialized individuals for services related to the field of measurement and evaluation in education and psychology.

  • Encourages members to conduct research in various areas of measurement and evaluation, supports them within available means, and assists in conducting these studies and research.

  • Organizes activities for the training of those working in measurement and evaluation and for sharing experiences among those working in this field.

  • Organizes seminars for the professional development of measurement and evaluation specialists working in schools.

  • Works to identify and solve the problems experienced by schools and teachers regarding measurement and evaluation.

  • Examines whether the measurement and evaluation aspects of curricula from preschool through the end of 12th grade and practices in this area comply with measurement and evaluation principles in education; provides information and recommendations to relevant institutions, organizations, and the public when necessary.

  • Evaluates the conformity of textbooks written for education levels from preschool through the end of 12th grade with measurement and evaluation principles in education; provides information and recommendations to relevant institutions, organizations, and the public when necessary.

  • Monitors whether the preparation, adaptation, application, scoring stages, and evaluation and reporting processes of national and international exams administered in our country comply with measurement and evaluation principles; informs relevant institutions and the public about this matter. Evaluates the results of these exams and provides information and recommendations to relevant institutions and the public based on the evaluation results. When necessary, it can assume academic and administrative responsibilities in the public interest in such exams.

  • Can establish a Test and Scale Bank for the proper development, adaptation, protection, and use of tests and scales used for educational purposes in our country.

  • Conducts test and scale development and adaptation studies to be used in our country.

  • Provides in-service training to various official and private institutions, organizations, and individuals related to measurement and evaluation; meets demands for consulting and research in its field. Some of these services can be provided in exchange for receipt.

  • Monitors measurement and evaluation services provided by persons without professional qualifications to individuals or institutions and takes initiatives to warn the public, applying to competent authorities when necessary.

  • The association may establish foundations by fulfilling legal requirements and may open and operate the facilities specified in Article 26 of Law No. 5253 on Associations in accordance with procedures.

  • The association carries out joint work with domestic and foreign associations, foundations, and similar institutions and organizations on all kinds of scientific, cultural, and social matters by fulfilling legal requirements.

  • As a civil society organization, it can conduct scientific studies related to measurement and evaluation at individual, institutional, national, and international levels, create databases, organize events, participate in and support events, and disseminate them.

Founding Members of the Association

Article 5. The names, surnames, professions, nationalities, and addresses of the founding members of the association are shown below.

Name Surname Profession Nationality Address
Şener BÜYÜKÖZTÜRK Faculty Member TC Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Teknikokullar/ ANKARA
Hülya KELECİOĞLU Faculty Member TC Hacettepe University, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Beytepe/ANKARA
Ömer KUTLU Faculty Member TC Ankara University, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Cebeci/ANKARA
Mediha KORKMAZ Faculty Member TC Ege University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Psychology, Bornova/İZMİR
Tülin ACAR Specialist TC Selanik-2 cad. 46/4 Kızılay-Ankara
Kübra ATALAY KABASAKAL Research Assistant TC Hacettepe University, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Beytepe/ANKARA
Melek Gülşah EROĞLU Research Assistant TC Gazi University, Gazi Faculty of Education, Teknikokullar/ ANKARA
Emrah GÜL Research Assistant TC Ankara University, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Cebeci/ANKARA

SECTION 2

Membership to the Association, Membership Procedures, Membership Dues, Resignation and Expulsion from Membership

Members of the Association

Article 6. The association has two types of membership: regular and honorary.

Regular Membership

Article 7. Requirements for Regular Membership

  • Having civil rights and being at least 18 years old.

  • Being a Turkish citizen or having obtained the right to reside in Turkey within the framework of the laws.

  • Having graduated from a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program in measurement and evaluation in education at a domestic or foreign university recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), or from psychometrics master’s or doctoral programs in psychology departments; pursuing graduate studies in Measurement and Evaluation in Education or Psychometrics; or having received the title of Associate Professor in the field of Measurement and Evaluation in Education.

  • Agreeing to pay the membership entry fee and annual dues as determined by the Association’s Board of Directors.

  • Regular membership registration cannot be made contrary to the above-stated conditions.

Honorary Membership

Those who meet one of the following conditions may become honorary members by decision of the Board of Directors:

  • Those who have greatly served the association’s purposes or scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of measurement and evaluation in education and psychology through their scientific work.

  • Undergraduate students of psychology departments.

  • People from different professions who are interested in measurement and evaluation in education and psychology and interdisciplinary studies and express their desire to work in this field.

  • Those who are pursuing graduate studies in a field other than educational measurement and evaluation and psychology and can contribute to the association’s objectives through interdisciplinary work.

  • Honorary members pay membership dues if they wish. The Board of Directors decides which services of the Association these members may benefit from. A separate Honorary Member Registry is kept for honorary members and an Honorary Member Card is issued. Honorary members have no voting rights at the General Assembly. The requirement of having the right to reside in Turkey is not sought for foreigners elected as honorary members.

Membership Procedures

Joining as a Member

Article 9. Those who wish to become regular or honorary members of the association apply to the Central Board of Directors Presidency by signing the application form, the format of which will be determined by the Board of Directors, along with the following documents.

  • Two photographs,

  • A copy of national ID card,

  • A photocopy of graduation, student, or associate professor title documents,

  • Entry fee and annual dues payment receipt,

  • For non-Turkish citizens, a document showing residence permit in Turkey.

  • The Central Board of Directors notifies the candidate in writing of its decision within a maximum of 30 days after receiving the documents. There is no obligation to provide reasons to those whose applications are rejected.

  • Documents of candidates who do not meet the conditions in Article 7 are returned. Candidates whose documents are returned may reapply for membership when they meet the conditions in Article 7.

  • Those whose applications are accepted are registered in the Regular Member Registry. Regular members are obligated to regularly fulfill the duties prescribed by this bylaws. All types of members have the authority to submit petitions regarding the management of the association in writing to the Board of Directors Presidency. Members who leave the association for any reason are required to pay their dues and service-related debts up to the date of departure. Private law provisions apply to those who act contrary.

Membership Dues

Article 10. The association entry fee and annual membership dues are determined annually by decision of the Board of Directors and announced to the members.

Resignation from Membership

Article 11. No one can be forced to remain a member of the association. Every member has the right to resign by providing written notice. Members who resign or are expelled are obligated to pay the dues for the period they were members.

Expulsion from Membership

Article 12. The membership records of those found to be in the following situations are deleted by decision of the Board of Directors, and the decision is communicated to the relevant parties in writing by regular mail or email within 30 days.

  • Those who subsequently lose the conditions for membership according to the Associations Law,

  • Those who act contrary to the association bylaws,

  • Those who fail to pay membership dues for two consecutive years despite written warnings,

  • Those who act contrary to the purpose of the association, hinder or complicate activities, do not comply with general assembly and board of directors decisions, and put the Association under any obligation without authorization,

  • Those who do not comply with the principles specified in the EPODDER Ethics Directive,

  • Those who engage in objectionable attitudes and behaviors incompatible with the field of measurement and evaluation and psychometrics, and who engage in activities contrary to the Associations Law and the Association’s Bylaws are expelled from association membership by decision of the Board of Directors.

  • Those who leave the association membership cannot claim any rights over the movable or immovable property of the association.

SECTION 3

Association Bodies, Establishment, Authorities and Duties

Article 13. The bodies of the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology are as follows:

  • Central General Assembly

  • Board of Directors

  • Audit Committee

Central General Assembly

Article 14. The Central General Assembly is the highest decision-making and supervisory body of the Association. The Central General Assembly consists of the regular members of the association. Honorary members may attend General Assembly meetings and speak but have no voting rights and cannot be elected to other bodies of the association.

General Assembly Meeting Place, Time and Procedure - Ordinary Meeting

Article 15. The General Assembly meets once every two years in April at the call of the Central Board of Directors in Ankara.

Extraordinary Meeting

Article 16. The General Assembly convenes extraordinarily within one month at the latest when the Board of Directors and Audit Committee deem it necessary or upon written request of at least one-fifth of the association members.

Board of Directors

Article 22. The Board of Directors consists of seven regular and seven alternate members elected by the General Assembly from among regular members for a term of two years. The president represents the Board of Directors. Central Board of Directors members are elected by secret ballot and open counting. Alternate members are called to duty when vacancies occur among regular members.

Audit Committee

Article 26. The Audit Committee consists of three regular and three alternate members. Audit Committee members are elected by the General Assembly from among members by absolute majority and secret ballot, open counting. This committee performs its audit duties at intervals not exceeding six months according to the principles and procedures determined in the association bylaws and presents the audit results as a report to the Board of Directors and, when convened, to the Central General Assembly.

Ethics Committee

Article 28. The Ethics Committee of the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology is elected by the Central General Assembly from among members by absolute majority and secret ballot, open counting, to serve for two years. The Ethics Committee consists of three regular and three alternate members.

SECTION 4

Financial Provisions - Income and Expenses of the Association

Income of the Association

Article 31. The income of the association consists of the following sources:

  • Membership dues,

  • All kinds of donations and aid made by real and legal persons (in-kind and cash aid may be received from persons, institutions, and organizations abroad provided that prior notification is made to the civil administrative authority),

  • Income from publications, research and examinations, equipment, training courses, lotteries, balls, entertainment, conferences, congresses, seminars, symposiums, dinners, cocktails, and all kinds of scientific, social and cultural activities organized by the association, as well as income from the sale of books and journals published by the association,

  • Interest and bonuses from the association’s bank deposits,

  • Income from association property,

  • All other kinds of income permitted by the Associations Law,

  • Income from all kinds of measurement tool development, application, and evaluation services,

  • Income from consulting services.

SECTION 5

Miscellaneous Provisions

Internal Audit of the Association

Article 45. Internal audits may be conducted by the General Assembly, Board of Directors, or Audit Committee, as well as by independent audit organizations. The fact that an audit has been conducted by the General Assembly, Board of Directors, or independent audit organizations does not eliminate the obligation of the Audit Committee.

How the Bylaws Shall Be Amended

Article 46. Bylaws amendments can be made by decision of the general assembly.

  • For bylaws amendments to be made at the general assembly, a two-thirds majority of members who have the right to participate and vote at the general assembly is required. In case the meeting is postponed due to lack of quorum, no quorum is required for the second meeting.

Dissolution of the Association and Liquidation of Assets

Article 47. The general assembly may decide to dissolve the association at any time.

  • For the dissolution matter to be discussed at the general assembly, a two-thirds majority of members who have the right to participate and vote at the general assembly is required.

  • The dissolution decision is made by a two-thirds majority of the votes of members who participate in the meeting and have the right to vote. The dissolution decision vote at the general assembly is conducted openly.

Liquidation Procedures

Article 48. When a dissolution decision is made by the general assembly, the liquidation of the association’s money, property, and rights is carried out by a liquidation committee consisting of the last board of directors members. These procedures begin from the date the general assembly decision regarding dissolution is made or the date when the automatic termination becomes definitive.

Article 51. In cases where there are no provisions in these Bylaws, the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code regarding Associations as well as the provisions of the Associations Law and other relevant legislation regarding associations shall apply.