We study the properties of two specification tests that have been applied to a variety of estimators in the context of value-added measures (VAMs) of teacher and school quality: the Hausman test for choosing between random and fixed effects and a test for feedback (sometimes called a "falsification test"). We discuss theoretical…

Using academic achievement data for 655 University students, direct validation of differential predictions based on a battery of aptitude/achievement measures selected for their differential prediction efficiency was attempted. In the cross-validation of the prediction of actual differences among five academic area GPA's, this set of differential…

The results of this study seem to indicate that time may be a relevant variable when scores on a personality inventory are used to predict achievement of college freshmen. When a sample of freshmen college students were required to respond to statements of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) in a controlled amount of time per statement,…

Results in this study suggest that it is possible to use performance on a moderator or predictability scale to select a subgroup for whom correspondence between two predictors and the criterion is much greater than that of a subgroup whose scores on the moderator indicate a lesser degree of correspondence. (Author/ES)

In testing the Academic Achievement scale, no relationship was found to persistence or between entering first-year Academic Achievement scale scores and 4-year grade point average. Comparisons with a scholastic ability test were unfavorable, other results ambiguous, and caution seems indicated in using the scale. (Author)

The current study examines the views of experts in the science of mental abilities about the primacy and uniqueness of "g" and the social implications of ability testing, and compares their responses to the views of a group of non-expert psychologists. Results indicate expert consensus that "g" is an important, non-trivial determinant (or at least…

A study was conducted to determine which subtests of the Gates Reading Readiness Tests have greatest predictive efficiency. An experiment to assess the effect of training in reading readiness on 222 kindergarten children (107 girls and 115 boys) provided the data for the research. The experimental group received 2 months' reading readiness…

Background and purposes of the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) and the hazards of combining data on these tests in research studies are discussed; the predictive validity of the NTE with in-service teachers is analyzed. Suggestions are made for closer correlation between rating scales and what the standardized tests themselves attempt to…

The Federal Court decision in the Griggs case may lead to fundamental changes in test practices. (Author)

Paper presented at the International Seminar on Experimental Research in Music Education (University of Reading, Reading, England, July 9-16, 1968).

In a training situation, the standard procedures for predicting performance entail long delays between the request for a predictive instrument and its delivery. Methods were developed for constructing psychological prediction instruments at the time of the request, rather than waiting for the maturation of the criterion data. The two synthetic…

Research has provided few guidelines or criteria which can be utilized by college deans to decide which academically dismissed students have the highest probability of success once readmitted. In this study, measures of student characteristics were sought which correlate with academic performance. 360 admission applicants, of whom 181 sought…

A tailored testing model employing the beta distribution, whose mean equals the difficulty of an item and whose variance is approximately equal to the sampling variance of the item difficulty, and employing conditional item difficulties, is proposed. (Author)