Describes and compares two self-report measures of family competence: the Family Awareness Scales (FAS) (Green and Kolevzon, late 1970s) and the Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI) (Beavers, 1983). Discusses reliability and validity. Their focus on the "insider" (family member) is different from the traditional examination of family…

Comparison of the use in libraries of open systems--a configuration of software and hardware components from separate vendors linked by interfaces--and integrated systems considers selection of services; reliability; relationships with vendors; time needed to implement systems; and overall effectiveness of both approaches. (CLB)

Student self-evaluation and peer evaluation are compared with traditional student assessment methods in terms of reliability and the possible effects on learning and personal development, and the results of a program of self- and peer evaluation are reported. (MSE)

Concludes that the new Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) serves reasonably well as a quick estimate of intellectual ability but that it should not be used as an extended substitute for the more rigorous WISC-R. (FL)

Reports on a study that compared the potential validity, reliability, and costs of several direct and indirect measures of writing. (HOD)

Examines 12 commercially prepared informal reading inventories and discusses the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the unique features of each. (FL)

In an attempt to assess a person's orientation toward death, a self-administered form of the Threat Index (TI) was introduced and compared to the original interview form along dimensions of validity, reliability, internal consistency, and independence from social desirability response sets. Results supported theoretical and psychometric soundness…

College juniors (N=28) tested two versions of the Marshall Flotation Technique to obtain consistency of descriptive comments in rating themes compared with number and letter grades. High reliability estimates for all four pre and post-test groups and a significant decline from pre to post groups in number of comments resulted. (Author)

Results and interpretations of the data from a performance examination were compared for four methods of analysis for 74 medical specialty certification candidates: (1) traditional summary statistics; (2) inter-judge correlations; (3) generalizability theory; and (4) the multifaceted Rasch model. Advantages of the Rasch model are outlined. (SLD)

Discusses the development of a computer literacy measurement instrument for undergraduates. The reliability and validity of the survey are assessed using longitudinal and cross-sectional data, and results are compared to another instrument. A copy of the survey is appended. (Author/LRW)

A comparison is made of the power and actual alpha levels of three tests of homogeneity for independent product-moment correlation coefficients using Monte Carlo methods while selectively studying sample size and varying the number of correlation reliabilities. How robust these are in applied work is discussed. (SLD)

This study examined judgments of document relevance made by library science graduate students who were not the originators of the queries for which the documents were retrieved. Although the secondary judgments compared well with those of the original users, it was found that secondary judges used document record fields differently and had a…

The reliability of residual scores created in the analysis of covariance in pretest-posttest designs, adjusted for a singe covariate, is compared with that of simple difference scores as relevant parameters vary. Little gain in reliability is created by analysis of covariance, which also suffers from reliability problems. (SLD)

A quantitative ethogram was developed for the zebra finch, using one-zero focal animal sampling on an ethologically comprehensive checklist of 52 behavioral items, and it was assessed for interobserver reliability and construct validity. Applying the quantitative methods of psychometrics allows verification of ethological theory and testing of…