Developing practical achievement tests for use at the primary-grade level is a difficult task. Some problems encountered appear to be resolved by using verbally administered yes-no tests. But such tests are criticized as having a low reliability because they offer only two choices. Two modifications of the yes-no test have been proposed to…

The Metropolitan Readiness tests, first published in 1948 (forms R and S), were revised in 1966 (forms A and B). This study was instigated as a result of the charge that the revisions of the tests made them more difficult and more unfair to deprived children. Thirty-six Caucasian beginning first graders (divided evenly by high and low…

Two modes of evaluation are compared: the summary evaluation by supervisors performed at six-month intervals, and the technique of direct observation of a clinical encounter through one-way glass. The sample consists of 17 residents in pediatrics who were evaluated, using both methods, over an eight-month interval. The analysis of data indicates…

Distinction between norm referenced and criterion referenced tests are explored in relationship to underlying philosophy and intent. In considering the use of a criterion referenced test for instructional purposes, consideration is given to: specification of objectives, item content and selection, reliability, and needs assessment. (Author)

An experiment was conducted to find a better method of marking English composition than that which is in general use. The method tested was one in which each composition was assessed independently by three markers who judged the general impression of the writing, and by a fourth marker who applied a code of penalties for mechanical errors. Brief…

Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Scale, Gilligan, et al.'s Sexual Moral Judgment Scale, Maitland and Goldman's Objective Moral Judgment Scale, and Hogan's Maturity of Moral Judgment Scale were examined for reliability and inter-scale relationships. All measures except the Objective Moral Judgment Scale had good reliabilities. The obtained relations…

The objectives of the project were to (1) determine whether students making a subjective evaluation of other students will tend to grade their friends higher than others they do not know as well, (2) whether the use of an evaluation instrument reduces the subjectivitiy of student judgment, and (3) what differences there may be between a grade…

Scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test and a new test of reading and writing, the California State University and Colleges English Placement Test, were examined to determine if unique properties for either test could be found. Both tests seem to be measuring the same underlying ability with few unique properties. (Author)

The Career Maturity Inventory Attitude Scale materials were found to provide very little useful information concerning the instrument's reliability. The data that were interpretable showed the scale to have quite modest reliability. (Author)

The standard form Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and two abbreviated forms were compared with direct measures of psychopathology obtained from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). The multiple correlation coefficients between the BPRS ratings and the corresponding MMPI and abbreviated-form scales were significantly high…

Forty-six achievement tests were compared for content validity, criterion-related validity, reliability, and norms. Results show that more popular tests provide the user with technical data in the critical areas examined, although the information provided may be incomplete. (Author/MT)

Examines two sets of variables that influence age-related patterns of text recall--the effects of verbal ability level and text structure variables on text recall of younger, middle-aged, and older adults. Results indicate that age differences in the discovery and utilization of the organizational structure of texts were found to be mediated by…

Details of a reasonably precise normalization technique for coefficient alpha are outlined, along with methods for estimating the variance of the normalized statistic. These procedures lead to the K-sample significance test. (RC)

While a variety of scales and instruments to measure parental support exist, most of these have not received adequate analysis. Utilizing two bodies of data, the widely used Heilbrun, Cornell, and Schaefer measures of parental support were examined. Results are presented. (Author)

This paper identifies World Wide Web site characteristics and attributes and groups them in a hierarchy. The primary goal is to classify the elements that might be part of a quantitative evaluation and comparison process. In order to effectively select quality characteristics, different users' needs and behaviors are considered. Following an…