Is it appropriate and useful for evaluators to use findings to make recommendations? If so, under what circumstances? How specific should they be? This article presents a decision-making framework for the appropriateness of recommendations in varying contexts. On the basis of reviews of evaluation theory, selected evaluation reports, and feedback…

Looking-time studies examined whether 11-month-old infants can individuate two pairs of objects using only shape information. In order to test individuation, the object pairs were presented sequentially. Infants were familiarized either with the sequential pairs, disk-triangle/disk-triangle (XY/XY), whose shapes differed within but not across…

Congenitally, profoundly deaf children whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL) and whose speech is largely unintelligible need to be literate to communicate effectively in a hearing society. Both spelling and writing skills of such children can be limited, to the extent that no currently available assessment method offers an adequate…

Fourteen collections of children's reading materials were used to investigate the claim that collections of authentic texts with a common theme, or written by one author, afford readers with more repeated exposures to new words than unrelated materials. The collections, distinguished by relative thematic tightness, authorship (1 vs. 4 authors),…

The present research investigates the contribution of an interactive educational virtual environment on milk pasteurization to the learning outcomes of 40 students in a technical secondary school using SOLO taxonomy. After the interaction with the virtual environment the majority of the students moved to higher hierarchical levels of understanding…

Purpose: The contribution of genetic factors in the persistence of and early recovery from stuttering was assessed. Method: Data from the Twins Early Development Study were employed. Parental reports regarding stuttering were collected at ages 2, 3, 4, and 7 years, and were used to classify speakers into recovered and persistent groups. Of 12,892…

On a general level, the objective of diagnostic classifications models (DCMs) lies in a classification of individuals regarding multiple latent skills. In this article, the authors show that this objective can be achieved by multidimensional adaptive testing (MAT) as well. The authors discuss whether or not the restricted applicability of DCMs can…

A fairly large number of different methods exist for evaluating comparisons or null hypothetical contrasts. Because it is difficult to choose among them, this paper develops a 2 by 2 classification of the methods. The first dimension of the classification is decision-based error rate vs. experimentwise error rate. The second dimension is planned…

Approximately 50 citations (1973 - 1976) are included in the annotated bibliography on identification and assessment of gifted children. Entries are arranged according to accession number and usually provide information on author, title, source, date, pagination, availability (including Educational Resources Information Center number when…

Five data collection methods are described: interviews of individuals, nominal group approaches, administration of questionnaires, inspection of records, and the Delphi decision making technique. A matrix is included and provides a brief description of each method, along with its choice criteria and its advantages and disadvantages. (BM)

Counseling and educational professionals are encouraged to understand the research behind the theory and the development of a measure of personality in addition to the application of the measure. Personality assessment, especially in relation to the Enneagram classification system of personality, has been dramatically changing. Personality…

Evaluation literature is reviewed through an analytical framework representing issues addressed by major evaluation approaches in education. Ten evaluation dimensions comprise the framework: (1) definition, (2) functions, (3) objects, (4) variables, (5) criteria, (6) audience, (7) evaluation process, (8) inquiry methods, (9) evaluator…

Classification or category systems are important for defining and introducing new concepts, such as decision management/facilitative v judgmental evaluations. Furthermore, category systems can lead to a reexamination or restatement of views of evaluation. (CP)

In the first of two articles, the author discusses purposes of and problems involved in diagnosing learning disabilities (LD). Sections focus on three topics: the relationship between LD diagnosis and other assessment activity, the objectives of diagnostic classification, and specific conceptual concerns regarding the LD label. (Author/SBH)